REVIEWS. 
807 
Then follows a most interesting and pleasantly-written chapter on 
Oxfordshire Botanologia, in which are given biographical notices of the 
various botanists who have been associated with Oxfordshire botany, 
from Turner, the father of British botany, to the most recent of her 
workers. Among the more noticeable appear Gerarde, Parkinson, 
Bobart, Sherard, Dillenius, Sibthorp, Lightfoot, Banks, Goodenough, 
Baxter, and also other more or less historic names. 
The work concludes with the mosses and hepatics of Oxfordshire, 
which is a full and possibly exhaustive account of the various species 
and varieties, with their localities, by one of our leading bryologists, 
Mr. Henry Boswell. There are also catalogue lists of the fungi and 
lichens that have from time to time been recorded, and a very useful 
map, so coloured as to show at a glance the different drainage districts. 
The work is printed in small but clear type, is attractive in appearance, 
and does credit to both author and publisher. 
J. B. Bagnall. 
Nature-Musings; on Holy-days and Holidays. By the Rev. Nehemiah 
Curnock. With an Introduction by the Rev. W. H. Ballinger, 
LL.D., F.R.S. London : T. Woolmer. 
The fact that this delightful little book is introduced to the reader bv 
Br. Ballinger is a sufficient guarantee that it is worthy his attention. 
The author, a Wesleyan minister, who “ believes that all knowledge 
of God’s works is helpful to faith and Christian usefulness,” writes 
with the object of attracting young people to a study of Nature. This 
he seeks to do by describing the habits and structures of various 
“common objects” of English shores and ponds, lanes and gardens, 
justifying the publication of a new book on such familiar matters, by 
the fact that our best naturalists tell us that even the commonest 
phenomena of Nature cannot be too frequently described, provided the 
work is done truthfully. As might be expected, he writes from a 
purely religious standpoint, “ Bible in hand,” and explains everything 
by the theory of special creation, but all in a simple yet most genial 
and attractive manner. Now he tells us about the Polyzoa and 
Hydroids found on the sea-weeds attached to the pier at Bourne¬ 
mouth, now he takes us to certain “ Cheshire water-worlds ” rich in 
animal life, or again, discourses on the fortunes and misfortunes of a 
“ Bisinherited whelk,” and everywhere with a light, graceful, and 
scholarly touch. An example will best show his general style ; he is 
talking about the “ bird’s head processes ” of certain Polyzoa:— 
“ But what is the meaning of these vulture-heads placed at intervals 
on the stalks. Imagine a crystal hare-bell of gigantic size, with the 
head of a vulture fastened to the stem just below the flower. No legs 
or wings or body; nothing but an awful head ! See ! it rises, slowly ; 
and then more quickly falls. But for its shape, it might be a passing 
bell, ringing out in measured tones some awful doom. And ever and 
anon, as that solemn head rises, the beak opens wider and wider.” 
