BOOKS.
NATURAL HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE.* WE have often heard good parents expressing regrets that they knew no natural history, and could not teach their children or answer their questions. All children by nature take an interest in animals and plants ; but the taste is generally allowed to wither owing to the incapacity of parents or teachers to cultivate it. Most persons will agree that this is a misfortune, and some few parents and teachers to whom the world of natural science is closed make an effort to learn a little zoology or botany merely to teach their children or pupils. Dr. J. Bretland Farmer, who is Professor of Botany in the Royal College of Science, has produced, with the assist- ance of "a staff of specialists," a book which we believe will be of great value to those who wish to learn how to teach zoology. So far only the first volume of The Book of Nature Study has appeared. Twenty-three chapters cover in outline the animal kingdom, from the highest classes down to some of the typical insects and worms. Each chapter affords excellent material for a lesson, and the numerous plates can be supple- mented by a collection of specimens and visits to a museum, without which the study is futile. It should be clearly under- stood that this is not a text-book, and that the text is unsuited for the young until it has been absorbed, digested, and regurgitated by the teacher. Perhaps we may also remind those parents who decide to learn "a little natural history" in order to teach their offspring that the subject is not to be learnt in a day, or even a month, but that it is never too late to begin. "As in other branches of study," writes the editor of this volume, "the teacher ought to be ahead of his pupils, although he still must ever remain himself a learner. One of the main objects that have been kept in view during the prepara- tion of these volumes has been to place the necessary informa- tion in such a form an to be accessible to the teacher." There is a short bibliography at the end of some of the chapters. Mammals and birds are dealt with by Mr. W. P. Pycraft, of the British Museum, who has successfully avoided merely descriptive detail. Professor J. Arthur Thomson, of Aberdeen University, treats of reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and the often neglected lower vertebrates. He gives a masterly survey of the subject in fifty pages. He is right in warning the teacher that a grass-snake swallowing a frog is a sight best kept for private edification, and that Latin names such as Palmospondylus are luxuries for the teachers and not intended for pupils. His remarks are also excellent on the importance of giving the young child a general view of the animal kingdom, showing the relative position of the chief classes. Classification or orderly grouping is a serious part of Nature study. Mr. Oswald Latter's contributions on insects and earthworms make one believe that Charterhouse must be fortunate in having him as science master. Science is often taught on wrong lines, and we sometimes wonder whether unscientific science is not worse than none at all. The plates are well chosen, but there are slips in the description of the dissected model of a pigeon.
The next work before us treats of birds. Mr. R. B. Lodge's new book, Bird-Hunting through Wild Europe, describes some
* (1) The Book of Nature Study. Edited by J. Bretland Farmer, M.A., D.Sc. (Oxon.), F.R.S., Assisted by a Staff of Sireialists. Fully Illustrated. London : The Caxton Publishing Company. s. 6d.]—(2) Bird-Hunting through Wild Europe. By R. B. Lodge. With 24 Illustrations from Photo- graphs by the Author. London : Robert Colley. [7s. 6d. net.]—(3) Animal Romances. By Graham Renehaw, M.B. F.Z.S. Illustrated. London : Sherratt and Hughes. fee. net.]—(4) Btrds of the Plains. By Douglas Dewar, P.Z.S., I.C.S. With 16 Illustrations from Photogaphe of Living Birds by Captain F. D. S. Fayrer, I.M.S. London : John Lane. [12s. 64. net. J—(5) The Life Story of a Fowl. By J. W. Hurst. London : A. and C. Black. [6s.] — (6) Birds of Great Britain and Ireland : Order Passeres. Complete in 2 vols. By Arthur G. Butler, M.B.O.U., Ph.D., F.L.S., do. Illustrated by H. Grtinvold and F. W. Frohawk. VoL IL London : The Caxton Publishing Company. VA 4s. per vol.]—(7) British Country Life in Autumn and Winter. Edited by Edward Thomas. London : Hodder and Stoughton. [Se. 6d. net.]—(8) Wayside and Woodland Ferns. By Edward Step, Y.L.S. With Coloured Figures of every Species by Mabel E. Step and 67 Itutographs by the Author. London : F. Warne and Co. [69. net.]—(9) Holly, Yew. and Box with Notes on other Evergreens. By W. Dallimore and Thomas Moore. With 175 Illustrations. London : John Lane. [7s. 6d. net.]—(10) Alpines and Bog-Plants. By Reginald Fairer. With Illustrations. London : Edward Arnold. [78. 64. net.] ornithological expeditions of exceptional interest. The first, in the spring of 1905, was to more or less well-known ground in Andalusia. The Spanish marismas were suffering from a drought disastrous to wading birds, but profitable to the vultures which preyed on the dead cattle. In 1906 a much more adventurous expedition followed to Montenegro and Albania in search of the nesting-place of the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) and the great white heron (Ardea alba). Those who go after birds in Turkish territory must be prepared for discomforts and dangers. Mr. Lodge, though armed with permits from the Government and assisted by Baron Bornemisza, the Austrian Vice-Consul at Durazzo, found the Turkish Custom House and other officials as odious as other travellers have found them. The journey ultimately turned out a great success, and the reader who has the taste for hunting rare birds follows the pursuit of the pelicans with breathless interest. Another expedition to the Balkans and the delta of the Danube in 1907 failed in its main object, which was to discover the nesting-ground of Pelecanus onocrotalus. However, since Mr. Lodge came back, his com- panion, Herr Rettig, has hit upon the spot in the Dobrudscha where the bushes are killed for over a kilometre around by the excrements of thousands of pelicans and other birds. The result of these journeys is a delightful book which will quicken the pulses of ornithologists. Needless to say, Mr. Lodge, apart from eggs and skins, brought back many photographs, with which his book is profusely illustrated. Information about other birds besides pelicans (as well as the people in these wild parts) really makes the book worthy of a longer notice had we but space. It is to be regretted that the index is a very slovenly one.
The title Animal Romances will not convey much to those who are unacquainted with Mr. Graham Renshaw's books.
Perhaps the ty-two essays in this volume may best be described by the objectionable word "pen-pictures." Vividl) painted descriptions of animal life in all parts of the globe are what Mr. Renshaw attempts, His essays are sometimes happily worded and brilliant. At other times, to our thinking, he is too florid, and each sentence is overladen with adjectives. There is no lack of variety, for we jump from the African veld crawling with game to the Polar regions, and so to the forests of South America, and thence to the Australian bush. In the last two chapters we have a description of a spring day in Britain when the urns roamed about, and of Siberia in the age of the mammoths. This sort of writing is difficult to do well, and a little of it goes a long way. Mr. Renshaw has succeeded, but his photographs of animals hardly come up to modern requirements.
When we last had the pleasure of recommending a book by Mr. Douglas Dewar to any of our readers who might take an interest in Indian bird life we drew attention to the excellence of the photographs by Captain Fayrer. In Birds of the Plains Mr. Dewar has again secured plates of exceptional effectiveness by the same photographer. The text of the book, which is written in Mr. Dewar's vivacious style, is composed of about forty essays which have appeared in a variety of Indian news- papers. Unlike much journalistic matter, they are well worth republication, and even those who have never been to India, but care about birds, will probably be pleased by them. Mr. Dewar is an observer and a field-naturalist, but we do not think he should indulge in so many hits at museum naturalists who study structure and plumage. In an appendix Mr. Dewar gives a list of a hundred and eighty-four birds which are recorded from the British Isles and from India. But his articles treat mostly of birds characteristic of the peninsula. Some reviewers of Mr. Dewar's last work, which he called Bombay Ducks, said the book was good, but the title bad. Now, says Mr. Dewar, a title is only a badge, which need have no meaning; for a lady who went into a shop "asking for a new book called Nun Po:nice" was at once supplied by the bookseller with Lux Mundi, and it was what she wanted. To- some extent we agree. No one can take exception to the title of the present work, and in the way of popular natural history the contents are excellent.
The next book upon our list is intended for the young, and can hardly be called "Natural History." It is the latest of the "Animal Autobiographies," and the seventh of the series. We must confess that a whole volume filled with an auto- biography by a ben did not promise excitement, but we have been pleasantly deceived. The editor was fortunate in seouring so great an authority on poultry as Mr. J. W. Hurst to write The Life Story of a Fowl, and humorously present the recollections of an old hen. We follow her from early days on a Sussex farm, through terrible dangers in a higgler's cart, to her crowning triumph at the Crystal Palace Show. The book is of course meant for children, and, having experimented on a child of ten, we can warrant. that they will be delighted with it. Mr. Hurst could not have done his task better, and he verily makes us share the outlook of the hen.
We must mention the appearance of the second and con- cluding volume of Mr. A. G. Butler's Birds of Great Britain -and Ireland. Only the passerine birds are dealt with, but the book is worth notice because it is not a mere compilation, and the coloured plates are full of merit. Mr. Butler has had great experience of birds in captivity, and is a trustworthy -ornithologist as well.
Some little time ago we noticed the first instalment of British, Country Infe, edited by Mr. Edward Thomas. The second part, dealing with autumn and winter, contains sixty-three disconnected essays, and covers a variety of topics. The subjects range from "Flowers on the Shore" to -"Humours of Insect Life in October." "Trees," "Game- Shooting," " In Hard Weather," "The Trout," " Some Country Books," "Our Fungus Harvest," "The Buzzard," ." Gilbert White," and "The Study of Botany Out of Doers" are titles which sufficiently indicate the ground that is covered. Some of these essays are excellent bits of writing, though few show much originality. The editor has been successful in securing work from our best writers on country subjects, and among the many we will only mention the aaames of Canon Vaughan, Mr. George A. B. Dewar, Mr. Alfred W. Rees, Mr. A. H. Patterson, Mr. J. W. Bond, arr. Anthony Collett, and Mr. Walter M. Gallichan. The two portly green volumes are printed on light paper, and, -with Mr. Southgate's water-colour sketches and a number of coloured photographs, make an attractive work to have upon the table and dip into as the mood or the opportunity serves. As in the previous volume, the "Open-Air Diary" contains some surprising entries; for instance, "12 October, Blackcap singing in leafless hazels."
We pass on now to botany, with the object of recommending 'lie latest addition to the "Wayside and Woodland Series." Mr. Edward Step is a writer who is very successful in coin- -bluing the popular and the scientific sides when he deals with plants. Wayside and Woodland Ferns, which forms a pocket -guide to the British ferns, horsetails, and clubruosses, has fair 'coloured plates of every species, and a number of photographs -6esides. The only serious criticism we have to make concerns the omission of an analytical key to the genera and species. The British pteridophytes are not numerous ; but they are difficult to identify satisfactorily when we have to search the book and examine the plates at random. The introductory chapter describes the mysterious alternation of generations very lucidly, and the whole book forms a handy little guide for the ordinary nmateur field-botanist who does not want anything too technical.
The last two books before us deal with horticulture. Mr. Dallimore, whose position in the Royal Gardens at Kew -enables him to write with knowledge and authority, has included in one nicely printed volume three monographs on Belly, Yew, and Box. To these have been added some notes -on other evergreens, and the book is illustrated with many photographs. Ancient writers, poets, old works on gardening :and medicine, have been searched for material. Besides .teecriptions of all the varieties and instructions for their cultivation, Mr. Dallimore prints a collection of quotations -and legends. All three trees have long been connected with religious observances or superstitions. There is reason to 4)elieve that the pagans used holly at their festivals, and that t he Christians adopted it at Christmas so as not to be con- spicuous. So, too, a yew-tree was often a place of heathen worship, and the opinion prevails that the yews in churchyards are often older than the churches which were built near them. As for the box, Mr. Dallimore does not regard it as native, though the trees on Boxhill have been wild for some centuries. We are inclined to think that Mr. Dallimore overrates the merits of hollies as town trees, and that he is too hard on those who love topiary. His book is one that may be studied with profit by horticulturists and with interest by those who are curious about plant-lore. There is no need to recommend a new work by Mr. Reginald Farrer to those of our readers who enjoyed a former book about his rock-garden. They will be looking out for fresh pleasure in Alpines and Bog-Plants, and they will find that one of our most attractive writers on gardening has not yet exhausted his subject. Mr. Farrer's Yorkshire garden has become famous, and it would require much space to attempt to follow him when he describes his treasures. He combines the power of giving charming descriptions with the art of imparting practical hints. On the smaller bog-plants he is at his best ; but perhaps the most exciting chapter describes a day's collecting on the Alps above Arolla. The passion for gardening shows no signs at present of passing away; and so Mr. Farrer will not lack readers, nor will they be disappointed.
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