SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
195 
of them all. Although the hare does not appear to be mentioned in the early 
lists of food-stuffs, yet, when once our ancestors tasted it, they soon seem to have 
found out the best way of cooking it, for some of our modern recipes are prac- 
tically the same as those in vogue in the reign of Richard II. Colonel Herbert, 
upon excellent authority, combats the old idea th.at a coursed or hunted hare is 
infinitely superior, from an epicurean point of view, to one killed by the gun. In 
this connection it is pointed out that since the Ground Game Act came into force 
the hare, contending with too many enemies, has deteriorated in its edible 
quality. 
The nine illustrations are less attractive than those in previous volumes. We 
like best the blue hares in “A Hare Drive.” In “Snared,” while the he.ad is 
good, the hind feet are very coarse, and the dead hare has an unfinished appear- 
ance behind. We would gladly have been spared the picture of a hare with a 
broken leg, “ Making for the Iledgerow ” — a painful sight, which does not need 
immortalising. 
O. V. Aim.in. 
SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Anglins; Days* is a collection of short articles which have appeared in The 
Angler. Though, like many newspaper articles, they are rather light when 
brought together into a book, the fisherman may find the volume useful to put in 
his basket against a time when he is waiting for fish to rise, or to keep him 
awake for an hour after sppper in out of the way country quarters. Some of the 
subject-matter will be familiar reading, for several of the articles consist merely 
of extracts from books, fitted together with a few necessary or explanatory 
sentences. There are a good many accounts of fishing days, and a few sketches 
of scenery of the kind with which we have been rather too familiar of late years. 
These extracts will give an idea of their style and the weight of their .sub- 
stance. “The water exactly reflects the colour of the .sky. I have seen it blue : 
to-day it is a dull stone tint.” “Where the brook comes out the stones arc 
thickly coveted with damp moss, and on the bank opposite is a bed of young 
green nettles, the dry stems of last year’s growth rising among them.” “ Now a 
cock crows, and a rumble of cart wheels on a distant road. These are country- 
sights and sounds. This is the country’s heart.” We have, of course, the 
inevitable Walton article, but are surprised to find that the author, from long 
experience of anglers, knows “ that very many know nothing of Walton’s book.” 
There is not much natural history in Angling Days. The author envies the 
knowledge possessed by “ many a farmers boy,” of “ the name of every bird 
from the note it sings.” Elsewhere he speaks of a “ large sea-bird like a heron,” 
sailing slowly overhead ; but he knows the names of some of our wild plants, 
and finds it a distinct pleasure to do so. The four pages devoted to the otter 
contain but one original observation, and that not very correct, anent an otter’.s 
footprint on the snow, which is said to be much like a dog’s, only larger. The 
remainder of the article appears to be chiefly extracts from the works of other 
writers, though a failure of the inverted commas leaves us in doubt of how far 
one extract extends. The book is illustrated by half a dozen pretty river scenes. 
From the same author we have Walks round Hexham (Hexham : Catherall, 
price 6d.). “ A handy guide book to the town and its surroundings,” which will 
be found extremely useful and interesting to any one visiting a neighbourhood 
possessing, to judge from the descriptions and very nice illustrations, considerable 
natural and antiquarian attractions. At the end of the book there is a list of the 
plants found flowering in April, .May, June and July. Also some “Bird Notes,” 
consisting of an annotated list of the species found in the district, without any 
sort of a systematic arrangement. The “ Grass Bunting,” which is said to be 
* Angling Days and an Angler's Books, by Jonathan Dale, pp. 160. “ The 
.\ngler ” Co., Limited, 143, Strand, W.C. 
