130 
NATURE NOTES. 
book are most excellent and the greater proportion of them new ; 
a most valuable feature in this age of book-making — from old 
materials. Three outline maps are also given as aids in the 
study of distribution. 
The brachiopods, or lamp-shells, do not lend themselves to 
such popular treatment as the mollusca, for being sedentary 
animals they have not developed “ habits ” of interest. Mr. 
Shipley for the recent, and Mr. Reed for the fossil forms have, 
however, done their best with their anatomy and the structure 
of their shells, as well as their systematic arrangement, so that 
these portions of the work must be left to the student to judge of. 
The work as a whole is thoroughly well got up and we 
cordially recommend it to our readers. 
B. B. Woodward. 
WILD FLOWERS AT HOME AND ABROAD.=^ 
[HE general exodus which is so marked a feature of city 
life will be at its height before July draws to a close, 
and London will be reduced to the condition when, by 
an extraordinary figure of speech, it is said that there 
is “ no one in town.” It is a harvest-time for youthful collectors, 
who, too young to wander abroad by themselves, accompany 
their elders to pleasant country or seaside retreats, and find 
themselves in “ fresh fields and pastures new,” with other 
surroundings than those to which they are accustomed. It is 
only town children who derive from such a change the full 
benefit which it is capable of conveying ; and in these latter 
days, so much have facilities for locomotion increased, that even 
to them the holiday excursion has not the delight of novelty 
which attached to it three or four generations back. Yet it 
must always remain the chief yearly event, whether the young 
travellers are limited by the seas which surround our shores, or 
journey westward to the delightful albeit “ distressful ” country, 
or go further afield to French watering place, German forest, 
or Swiss mountain. And it may be laid down as a certainty, 
that none among the holiday makers, whatever their age may 
be, enjoy themselves more thoroughl}' than those who are 
interested, even though it be but slightly, in some branch of 
Natural History. 
On these occasions, wild flowers assume a position of import- 
ance from which they are often ousted at home by the superior 
attractions of birds. That these latter are the popular favourites 
* Wayside and Woodland Blossoms, by Edward Step. London : Warne 
& Co., pp. 173, 156 coloured figures. Price 7s. 6d. Flore Coloriee de Poche, 
par H. Correvon. Paris ; Klincksieck, pp. 161, 144 coloured figure.s. Price 
5s. 3d., post free. 
