NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
213 
each part dealing with the birds and beasts of a different habitat. The perfect 
reproduction of the splendid photographs necessitates a highly glazed paper, but 
the type is excellent and the extracts selected are generally judicious. White’s 
Selbotne appropriately leads the way ; and, though birds predominate, chapters 
on the Hedgehog, the Hare, the Rabbit, the Stoat and the Weasel, from Mr. 
Carruthers Gould (who honours us by borrowing our title for his columns in the 
IVeslminsUr Gazette), show that other animals are not ignored. We look forward 
to the completion of the series. 
The Horniman Museum. A Handbook to the Marine Aquarium. London 
County Council. Price id. 
Another perfect little museum-handbook for a penny ! We are told how to 
build and how to aerate a marine aquarium, and then all the chief animals which 
can be kept in it are described, all technical terms employed being carefully 
explained. Finally a list of books in the Museum Library dealing with the 
subject, forms a very adequate bibliography. Might we ask that, for those 
who cannot visit Forest Hill, the prices of these books be given in a future 
re-issue ? 
The Nature-Study Review for July maintains the improving character of the 
Review. We notice articles on the Silkworm and Protective Colours of Animals, 
but in general we think the tone is too methodological. We should like to see 
more suggestions for lessons and actual lessons learnt, more Nature-study and less 
talk round about it. 
Fishes I have Known. By Arthur H. Beavan. T. Fisher Unwin. Pi ice 5s. 
Fishes do not sing to us, and they can hardly be said to be domesticated. 
They can apparently be captured and killed without the infliction upon them of 
much, if any. pain ; and thus, though in this, as in previous volumes, Mr. Beavan s 
knowledge largely implies killing, this book has repelled us less than did its 
predecessors. As before, he narrates Australian and South American experiences ; 
but nearly half the volume, and by no means the least interesting half, is devoted 
to British fishes. Various charming haunts of the writer from his boyhood 
onward are lovingly described, one of which we are allowed to reproduce here, 
and the book ends with a gossipy chapter of anecdotes of fish-eating in the past. 
The American Botanist for September contains several interesting articles 
and paragraphs, such as those on Devices for Plant-protection, the Extermination 
of Galax, the Tumbleweeds — about which we should like to hear more — and the 
wilting of flowers when gathered by some people more than when gathered by 
others. 
The Naturalist for October, an exceptionally good number, contains, among 
other things, a well-illustrated article on Pond Vegetation. 
Received : Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Leaflet, No. 140; “ The Felted 
Beech Coccus, Cryptococcus fagi ” ; The Plant World for August ; The Victorian 
Naturalist for August and September ; and Nature Study, The Irish Naturalist, 
The Animals'' Friend, The Animal World, The Parents' Review, The Agricul- 
tural Economist, and The Estate Magazine for October. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
296. Mongoose and Cobra Fights. — I have several times seen the con- 
tests between mongoose and cobra in India alluded to by the Rev. E. T. Daubeny, 
and always with the results he mentions ; but I cannot recall an instance of the snake 
striking, as it must do to be fatal, with its mouth expanded. The strikes seemed 
mostly to be feints, and I rather doubt the snake’s attempting to bite with other 
teeth than the poison fangs, which are not placed very far back in the jaw but are 
curved rather backwards when at rest. 
