15 JULY 1882, Page 24

Vignettes from Nature. By Grant Allen. (Chatto and Windus.)— Many

readers will have been charmed with the sketches when they first appeared in the Pall Hall Gazette, and will be glad to possess them in this permanent form. A careful and loving observation of Nature, plant life and animal life alike, and a thorough knowledge of the scientific aspect of the phenomena which he describes and dis- cusses, characterise these very happy specimens of the essay. Mr. Allen has abundantly one of the gifts which mark the boat men of science, that of imagination, and uses it very felicitously. Mr. Grant Allen is, as our readers probably know, an ardent evolutionist, and preaches his scientific: doctrine with great energy.