20 AUGUST 1898, Page 22

All About Animals. (George Nevrnes. 10s. Gel.)—The compiler of this

volume may well add as a sub-title "For Old and Young," and he is justified also in the self-commendation of the three epithets, "popular, interesting, and amusing." We have between four and five hundred photographs of the best quality, giving us, "in their habit as they live," all kinds of animals from the lordly lion and tiger down to the prairie-dog (who, by the way, is not a dog at all, but a marmot). Of course the photographs will attract the more attention and admiration; but it would be a great mistake to neglect the very interesting letterpress. We may add to the notice of the swan (the common English variety is known as the "mute swan "), d propos of the fact of its abundance in Norfolk, that as a food it used to be ealled, and possibly still is called, "Norfolk venison." And very good eating it is, at least when young, experto crede. —Another very attractive volume, though appealing to different interests, comes from the same publishing firm. The Thames Illustrated: a Picturesque Journey from Richmond to Oxford. By John Leyland. This is a book about which one seems constrained to write either very little or very much ; any one, at least, who is familiar with the scenes here pictured. The writer of this notice has known them for many years, dating back to a time when the upper river was known to but very few, two or three spots that have been always much frequented excepted. The river is now, from far up in its course, a most crowded thorough- fare. Possibly this is a return to the old condition of affairs before the roads of England became safe and easy. It is a curious fact that most parishes that are anywhere near the river have had an access provided for them somewhere to its banks. But we must be brief. Both pictures and letterpress may be ccaifidently recommended.