Our Agreeable Friends. Edited by F. G. Aftalo. (W. and
R. Chambers. 6s.)—Mr. Aflalo humorously apologizes for his title, which may seem a little odd when it is found to include such creatures as lions, rattlesnakes, and tarantula spiders. His justifi- cation is that " they ask no questions ; they pass no criticisms." Well, we are not sure that it is true; we have known dogs that do something of the kind. However, it may pass. One thing becomes more and mere manifest the more we know of these creatures, that they are very human, at least in those great human characteristics, variety of character and differing degrees of intelligence. Is there any one who still believes that instinct accounts for all the actions of the lower animals? Well, let him explain this. A monkey at the Zoo was seen trying to get a nut which lay on the path a little outside his reach. Stretch as far as he might, he could not get it. Thereupon he retired to the back of his cage and picked out a number of straws, testing their strength till he found one suffi- ciently stiff to serve his purpose, which was to rake in the nut. The book, which is one of the most entertaining that we have seen, teaches us, among other things, that there is an infinite variety in these creatures, whether or no we call them friends or find them agreeable.
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