REVIEWS. 
51 
Stanley's Familiar History of Birds. 420 pp., illustrated. New and 
revised edition. Price 6s. Published by Longmans, Green, and 
Co. 
The late Bishop of Norwich, Edward Stanley, F.R.S., was a man 
possessing a great love for Nature, combined with scientific knowledge 
and accuracy. His book on birds has been, according to the publisher’s 
preface, “revised by a practical ornithologist of much experience,” 
but many alterations were neither necessary nor desirable, for the 
author was famous for his clear and admirable English, and his book 
contains a great mass of facts which no advance in scientific theories 
can ever alter. We have re-read the book, in this its new and hand¬ 
some form, and we can safely say that there is no better or more 
interesting introduction to the science of ornithology. 
The Science Monthly , Illustrated. David Bogue and E. W. Allen, 
London. 
We have received the January number of this magazine, a new venture 
at the end of last year. Many of the illustrations are capital, and the 
reproduction of the photograph of Sir William Thomson is one of the 
finest we have seen of its kind. This magazine is well edited and the 
articles are for the most part interesting and useful. 
Notes on Collecting and Preserving Natural History Objects. Edited by 
J. E. Taylor; 215 pages, 45 woodcuts ; price 3s. 6d. Published by 
W. H. Allen & Co., London. 
This is a new edition of a book which has had a large sale since its 
first publication some few years ago. Each branch of Natural History 
is treated by an expert—Geological Specimens by the editor; Birds’ 
Eggs, by T. Southwell; Butterflies and Moths, by Dr. Knaggs; 
Flowering Plants and Ferns, by J. Britten; Mosses, by Dr. Braitliwaite ; 
Fungi, by W. G. Smith ; and Seaweeds, by W. H. Grattan. Grasses, 
Lichens, Beetles, Bones, Hymenoptera, and Shells also have special 
articles devoted to the places in which they occur ; how to look for 
them; how to secure, prepare, dry or clean individual specimens, 
etc., etc. This work ought to be in the hand of every student of 
Natural History ; even the oldest collector may learn something from 
it, while to the beginner it will be of inestimable value, teaching him 
how to set about his work and how to preserve the fruits of his toil in 
a manner which, without such aid, he could only attain to a knowledge 
of by years of dearly-bought experience. 
P reparation of Coal. —Having read the note on this subject in last 
month’s issue I should like to state my experience and learn that of 
others. I have tried section-making of every kind of fire coal I could 
get, grinding as thin as it is possible, with but one result—failure. I 
could get no light to pass through the section. I have tried to get rid 
of the colouring matter but with like success. I think the difficulty 
lies not in getting the coal thin but in the presence of so much colour¬ 
ing matter. Will others state their experience?— H. Insley. 
