194 
NATURE NOTES 
not the Schizomycetes ; as, however, there are, as it is, over 2,600 species 
enumerated in a volume of less than 400 pages, the amount of work involved has 
not been trifling, whilst the authors’ names are a sufficient guarantee of its 
accuracy. Valuable notes on habitats are added and the distribution of the species 
is traced through the five vice counties ; whilst appendices of additions occupying 
some twenty pages are an unfortunate but inevitable result of the fact that publica- 
tion of the material in the Transactions of the Union has been spread over nearly 
three years. 
Hertford and its Surroundings. By William Graveson. Homeland Handbooks. 
Homeland Association. Price is. net. 
Though a county town, Hertford is neither very large nor very busy. It is, 
in fact, almost as rural as its surroundings, although it celebrates this year the 
tercentenary of its existence as a municipality ; and a district the main literary 
associations of which are with Izaak Walton and Charles Lamb, has more affinity 
to the golden age when men did “fleet the time carelessly” than with the present 
period of bustle. Angling, therefore, finds suitable prominence in this excellent 
example of an excellent series, though golfing strikes a more modern note, and 
reference to the possibilities of cycling appropriately introduce a chapter on the 
neighbouring Haileybury. The volume is, as usual in the series, well illustrated 
and provided with an ordnance map. 
Field Path Rambles : “ West Herts ” Series, Second Part. By Noah Weston. 
R. E. Taylor and Son. Price is. net. 
The Londoner who knows not the valleys of the Chess, the Gade and the 
Ver, and has the use of his legs, had better take the earliest opportunities of 
making their acquaintance with this little guide in his pocket. As we hope the 
book will be largely so used, we regret that a sketch map showing the means of 
access by rail has not been added. Twenty-five illustrations suggest the rural 
charm of village, common and mill-stream, in such neighbourhoods as Chenies, 
Langley, and kadlett, neighbourhoods dear to the .Selborne Society P'ield Club, 
and the detailed description of field-path rambles characteristic of this series 
makes this, like its predecessors, an invaluable guide to the stranger and pilgrim. 
Tramway Trips and Rambles. By A. E. Davies and E. E. Gower. R. E. 
Taylor and Son. Four Sections. Price 3d. each. 
As “ the great wen ” grows, the rambler has to go further afield for rustic 
peace ; but, per contra, modern “ civilisation,” as represented by suburban trains 
and electric trams, enables him readily to reach new centres for his divagations 
far from the City’s heart. Messrs. Taylor and Son, to whom ramblers have long 
been so deeply indebted for guidance, have found in this development of to-day 
a new and happy inspiration, and here, with the help of Messrs. Davies and 
Gower, they describe for the benefit of Londoners twenty-three tram rides and 
forty walks approached by the same means, the whole grouped in four sections, 
north, south, east and west. Here one learns how much of beauty and interest 
is within our reach for a fare seldom exceeding a shilling, with a walk of a couple 
of hours. These little guide-books, which are in octavo, instead of the familial 
duodecimo of “ Field Path Rambles,” contain some excellent illustrations of the 
churches and other places to be visited. 
The Horniman Museum : Handbook to the Case arranged as an Introduction to 
the Study of Birds' Eggs. London County Council. Price id. 
The opening sentence of this admirably conceived and no less admirably 
executed little handbook runs as follows : “ The arrangement of the specimens 
in this case is designed to encourage the observing rather than the mere collecting 
of birds’ eggs, by illustrating some of the many interesting facts that may be 
learnt by the intelligent study of their characteristics.” This is as it should he. 
The whole subject is discu.ssed scientifically with the help of a good bibliography 
and six excellent plates. We have only one fault to find with these handbooks to 
this invaluable Museum, issued by the London County Council. They represent 
arduous work of a high order on the part of some one who should have the credit 
of it ; but the only name they bear is that of Mr. G. 1.. Gomme, Clerk to the 
Council, who, we believe we may confidently state, is not their author. 
