THIS WEEK'S BOOKS
Fox the first time in many months we feel inclined to praise publishers. This week the table groans under its load of books ; but a quite unusual proportion of them is interesting and some of them are valuable. We have been irritated recently by the scores of popular and chatty books issued upon Science, Religion, History, Philosophy and such subjects ; it is often unfortunate that men should feel them- selves on easy acquaintance with great matters with no 'expense of thought. We feel relief when we come across a ponderous and rather repulsive-looking volume like Descriptive Sociology No. 3 : Types of Lowest Races, Negritto Races and Illialayo-Polynesian Races, compiled and abstracted upon the plan organized by Herbert Spencer, by David Duncan ; edited by Henry Tedder (Williams and Norgate). We have shortened the title considerably ; but there is probably enough of it here to suggest the sense of awe with which we received the book. As we open it, however, we find that it makes varied and delightful reading. The first half of the volume classifies the characteristics of the different races in a compendious form, excellently suited for quick reference and comparison. We learn that the Maoris have domesticated two animals, the pig and the dog ; and, of these two, the pig is kept as a pet. The British New Guinea tribes have the same peculiarity, with the added distinction of rearing their dogs almost entirely for food. The second half of the volume is a collection of records from travellers and research- workers. * * * *
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