23 AUGUST 1879, Page 21

Picturesque Lodges, by John Birch, architect (Blackwood), is described on

its title-page as " a series of designs for gate-lodges, park

entrances, keepers', gardeners', bailiffs', grooms', upper and nndor servants' lodges, and other rural residences," and has the object of showing how the picturesque and the comfortable may be associated.

"Most of the designs," says the author in his preface, " have been executed at moderate cost in various parts of the country." If he could have added a note, giving some information about this same article of cost (which, of conrse, must be understood to vary not in- considerably with locality), it would have made the volume still more interesting and useful than it is.