REVIEWS AND EXCHANGES 
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of this nnnii.il volume, whilst since it has employed a London printer and pub- 
lisher there is no complaint to make as to the “ get up ” of its publication. The 
papers are of varied interest, and several of them deal with local natural history, 
whilst others treat of those general matters, such as ideals an 1 methods, which, 
after all, are the main raison d'etre of a Union as distinguished from that of local 
societies. This Report ought to suggest to all societies in London or the south- 
eastern counties, however small, the desiiability of becoming affiliated to the 
Union, and should also secure a very large enlistment of members and associates 
for the next Annual Congress, which takes place at Rochester in June. 
The Essex Naturalist, vol. x., Nos. 4-12, April — December, 1897. 
These numbers, which we have only received some lime after the date of pub- 
lication, show that the Essex Field Club continues to do scientific work not 
excelled in thoroughness, variety, and truly local character by that of any other 
county natural-history society. They contain numerous interesting notes, one of 
which (p. 141) refers to the use of Colchester native oysters by the officers of the 
Roman army at Gloucester, as discovered by Mr. John Bellows —whose name, by 
the way, is misprinted as “ Bellews.” We are glad to see, from a note to a paper 
on “ The Protection of Wild Birds in Essex,” that the editor adopts Mr. Collin- 
son’s principle of scheduling not the protected, but, if any, the unprotected birds. 
The Club, at its 171st ordinary meeting, held on the beautiful lawn of Lord and 
Lady Warwick’s residence, Easton Lodge, on July 21, 1897, spoke out plainly as 
to the necessity of checking the extermination of plants, insects, birds, and other 
animals, now in progress. We agree with Mr. Ilarting (p. 182) that more may 
probably be done lor protection by good natural-history teaching in schools, 
especially boys’ schools, than by Acts of Parliament or Orders in Council. 
The Naturalist for October is as thorough as usual. With reference to the 
charge against squirrels of killing young birds, Mr. Oxley Grabham writes : — 
“ I have twice caught a squirrel in flagrante delicto. ... In one case the 
victim was a young thrush, and in the other case a chaffinch. I know of one 
wood where nearly all the squirrels were killed under the belief that they played 
the mischief with the young birds, but this, in my opinion, was a great mistake, 
as I am borne out in my idea by several excellent naturalists, that it is, as a rule, 
only one pair of squirrels out of a community that take to these evil courses. 
They, I admit, want shooting at once, but it is a great pity to make the many 
suffer for the sins of the few.” 
Hand and Eye, June— September (Newman & Co.). We should before this 
have directed the attention of those who are interested in educational, and 
especially in kindergarten work, to the valuable series of articles that are appear- 
ing in this journal from the pen of Mr. Francis J. Rowbotham. They are, we 
understand, to be deservedly reproduced in volume form. 
Science Gossip for October is a good average number. The Rev. J. W. 
Horsley, an enthusiastic naturalist, must naturally have been hugely amused 
when he lit upon such a gem as Mr. Frederick Whymper’s account of the 
mungoose in Good IVords for 1884 (p. 156) as “ a bird known as the kingfisher 
of Australia, and secretary bird of Africa.” This is as good as Herr Borch- 
grevinck’s “ flights of penguins,” and the wombats of Sir George Newnes’ more 
notorious naturalist. These flights of the imagination may escape even editorial 
vigilance ; but perhaps it is a little cruel to pillory them after fourteen years. 
The AnimaFs Friend for October is certainly remarkable for the excellence of 
its illustrations, which are as good as process blocks can be ; and, as usual, we 
prefer the Children’s Supplement to the journal itself. There is some danger, 
however, in the anecdote of a child unmolested in a bear’s cage. It would be a 
pity to encourage any child, on the strength of this story, to put itself in such a 
position. 
Our Animal Friends for October, now that the war is over, wisely considers 
the “new mission field” that the United States has before it. “Here,” says 
this excellent journal, “the most distinguished prelates of the Roman Church are 
earnest and principled in their sympathy for the cause of animal protection, and 
to them, rather than to any other power or agency, we shall look for an exten- 
