4 NOVEMBER 1893, Page 11

The Rivers of Devon. By J. Lo W. Page, With

Map and Illustrations. (Seeley and Co.)—Mr. Page is a most delightful companion to take along the rivers of Devon, for he makes the most of the historical associations of neighbouring houses and villages, and describes the views with detail sufficient for the traveller to recognise the various points in a panorama. He does not bore us with too much of the rivers themselves, but is atten- tive enough to them, giving each stream its individual character. It might be objected that he is almost too discursive ; but then the charm of a guide-book—and we may call this an ideal guide-book without any offence to Mr. Page—is its rambling and winding nature, and this is particularly appropriate to the description of a Devonshire stream. The choice bits of Toign, Dart, Exo, Lyn, Axe, and Tavy are charmingly rendered by E. Ansted, and accord well with the thoroughly artistic scene-painting of Mr. Page. In relating the story of Lord North's alarm at the reaper's cry of " A neck ! a neck ! " Mr. Page apparently does not know what the cry really means,—an invocation to Wodon.