The History of a Bit of Bread. By Jean Mach.
Part L, Man. Translated from the French and edited by Mrs Alfred Getty. (Saunders, Otley, and Co.)—This volume is really a model of an elementary scientific treatise. Intended for little girls, a description of the human body introduces no single topic which is unsuited for a child's perusal. Thearrangement is, like that of most French hooks, as nearly as possible perfect. It is always the leading facts which are made to arrest the atten- tion. The subject is treated with a playful humour of which the lightness and spontaneity contrast only too favourably with the lumbaring puns with which Englishmen try to relieve their solemn treatises. And the quaint drollery of the illustrations actually adds to the lucidity of the more carious exposition. Written for children, grown-up people will read it with profit and pleasure. Eight editions have made the Franch public familiar with the original, and Mrs. Gatty has conferred no slight boon on the English by a translation which faithfully preserves its best features. We even feel confidence in her judgment when she has ventured to tamper with tho text- although the practice itself is certainly reprehensible, and sincerely hope that she will continue her lab Jura, and give us a translation of the second part of M. Mach's work, which treats of the "History of Life in the Lower Animals."
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