100 
Analyses of Books. 
[February* 
Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society. New Series, 
Vol. III., Part 2. Bristol : J. Fawn and Son. 
We have again the pleasure of finding the “ Proceedings of the 
Bristol Society ” containing, or rather composed of, sound, ster- 
ling, creditable matter. 
Mr. W. J. Fuller, F.C.S., communicates some interesting 
results on the breathing apparatus of certain aquatic larvae, 
chiefly Libellulidae, but also including the Dipterous genera 
Covethra and Chironoruus. In Agrion, Libellula, Ephemera , and 
Corethra, but not in Chironomus f the breathing apparatus serves 
as a means of locomotion. 
Dr. Sylvanus Thompson attacks a very interesting physiolo- 
gical problem, to wit, by what means do we ascertain the direc- 
tion of any sound which strikes our ears ? This faculty, we may 
remark in passing, is possessed by certain of the lower animals, 
e.g., cats, in greater perfection than by ourselves. He describes 
a number of curious experiments on the localisation of sound, 
but concludes that it is as yet impossible to decide “ whether 
difference in phase, or direction or quality of the sounds that 
reach our two ears, is to be regarded as the criterion by which we 
judge of their direction.” 
Mr. J. Walter White gives some very sensible remarks on the 
preparation of a local flora. It is much to be regretted that the 
phyto-geography of England was not mainly completed a century 
ago. Since that time numbers of native species have disap- 
peared from their localities in part owing to cultivation and 
building, but perhaps still more in consequence of the rapacity 
of collectors and plant-merchants. We quite agree with Mr. 
White that the localities of rare plants should not be too precisely 
indicated. We have known of collectors who were not so much 
anxious to obtain specimens of a rare plant as to leave none be- 
hind them, and who consequently would systematically root out 
every trace of the species in question in some locality. 
Mr. C. Jecks, in a paper on “ Darwinism,” upholds Natural 
Selection as if not the principal cause of the rise and decay of 
species, yet one of considerable importance. 
Mr. O. Giles describes the boulders of the Bromsgrove dis- 
trict, derived, it appears, from the Arenig mountains. 
Mr. A. E. Hudd continues his catalogue of the Lepidoptera of 
the Bristol district. 
Mr. C. Bucknall resumes his account of the Fungi of the 
Bristol district, and gives several species new to Britain. His 
memoir is illustrated with well-executed coloured plates. 
Dr. G. F. Burder summarises the results of modern investiga- 
tions on the course of storms. He points out that during 
January, 1880, there was no atmospheric disturbance of moment 
in Western Europe, from the 4th to the 27th day inclusive. Yet 
