SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
55 
A Monograph of the Land and Freshwater Mollusca of the British Isles, by 
J. W. Taylor, F.L.S., &c., part i, 8vo. Leeds : Taylor Bros., 1894. Price 6s. 
The first sixty-four pages of this long- promised work now lie before us, and if,as 
we have every reason to expect, the remainder be carried on in the same thorough 
manner, British conchologists will have no longer reason to complain that a com- 
plete treatise on the subject is a desideratum. In addition to a coloured frontis- 
piece there are abundant illustrations in the text. 
The slug is the only figure on the coloured plate that 
N leaves something to be desired ; the text illustrations 
" are not all of equal merit, but the majority are infi- 
nitely better than anything that has been done before 
for British shells, as the accompanying example — a 
variety of Planorbis cortieus —%\\q\vs,. Doubtless Mr. 
Taylor’s production will not satisfy all the specialists 
on the subject — what work ever did ? — but then the specialists must take care of 
themselves. The ordinary student of British conchology will find it an indispen- 
sable, though not infallible, guide in his pursuit, whilst it cannot fail to be of 
interest to those also who 
“ Look with young wonder at the sliding snail. 
Admire his eye-tipt horns and painted mail.” 
B. B. W. 
It seems scarcely a year since we chronicled the beginning of The Country 
Month by Month, but the last of the twelve volumes is now before us, bringing to 
a close this excellent series. The high level which was reached in its first volume 
has been steadily maintained, and we are glad to speak as favourably of the work 
at its close as we did at its beginning. Professor Boulger and Mrs. “Owen” 
have worked together most satisfactorily, and have produced a valuable addition 
to the country house binary. The publishers, Messrs. Bliss, .Sands and Foster, 
are issuing the twelve monthly parts in four quarterly volumes, in which form 
they will be perhaps more suitable for reference, though as pocket companions 
the monthly instalments are more convenient. 
We hope to notice next month Sir Robert Hunter’s important pamphlet on 
Footpaths and Commons, and Parish and District Councils, which Messrs. Cassell 
have just issued ; but will not defer stating its object, in the following extract from 
the introductory note : — “ It is the object of this pamphlet to explain in very 
general terms the principles of law which govern the preservation of footpaths, 
road-side wastes, commons, and village greens, and to indicate the duties and 
powers of the newly established Councils in this connection. It is a subject ol 
general lament, that in recent years there has been a steady flow of population 
from country to town. The inclosure of commons and the closing of footpaths, 
the destruction, so to speak, of the labourer’s heritage in his own parish, effected 
without the slightest reference to his views, has probably had its share in bringing 
about a result which is now so much regretted. It may be hoped that the power 
recently given to the people to protect their oven footpaths and commons will, if 
understood and exercised, do something to make the rural districts more attractive 
to the majority of their inhabitants.” 
SELBORNIANA. 
Feeding the Birds. — During the late severe weather my family have 
been in the habit of throwing food out for the birds on a patch of gravel walk 
cleared of snow. Birds of many kinds — thrushes, blackbirds, starlings, chaffinches, 
robins, sparrows, and others — have come in great numbers to partake of the food 
thus provided, but a few days ago another claimant appeared, a medium-sized 
rat, who apparently has his head-quarters somewhere in the shrubbery. He has 
now appeared regularly for several days, and his presence does not apparently 
alarm the birds. As another novel experience at this season of the year I may 
mention that yesterday morning, with the thermometer at about 25°, I saw two 
red squirrels running about under a beech-tree scratching away the snow, which 
