AN EDUCATIVE BEE.
• A small and simple German book was given me recently, with the note that it was officially recommended for use throughout the elementary schools of Austria. It is a rather ingenious tale of the wanderings of a young honey-bee, who plays truant from the hive, and meets a host of other insects before returning to her Socialistic community. Die Biene Maya" and her instructress Kassandra—of all names !- are not peers of Kipling's Melissa and Saccharissa ; but the book is very nicely adapted to inspire a zest in natural history among children, whether of' the country or town. If, as some of the educational authorities aver, we are genuinely trying to "dc-urbanize "—blessed word !—our rural educa- tion, such a book would be a valuable help ; and we have a score of naturalists who could write it. We have many good books on the teaching of Nature study, but almost none that a child would read with any genuine excitement or pleasure.
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