Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-01
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

''The Honey Ant and the Occident Ants" by Henry 0. McCook, is an important con- tribution to the science of entomology. Naturalists have long been familiar with the existence of the honey ant, but very little had been discovered in regard to it's habits and characteristics prior to Dr. McCooks re- searches By him, however. the geographi cal distribution of the insect; the nature of the ant honey and the process of it's forma tion the architecture of the ants nest and the anatomical arrangements of its alimentary canal, with much else germane to tho theme are lucidly and exhaustively discussed. In the second part of the volume it's author turns his attention to the occident ant, or the honied mound builders of the American plains, an insect which is peculiar to this continent, which, like the agricultural ant of Texas to which Dr. McCook some time ago introduced the public, proves to be har vester. The value of the work is increased by accurately drawn illustrations. Published by J. B. Lippincott & Co.,, Philadelphia, and for sale in this city by Judd the bookseller.
 ''The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms with Observa- tions on their Habits, by Charles Darwin, is enc of the most notable books of the year. Mir Darwin estimates that there are about B, ,567 worms to an acre of land. These creatures, whether they eat or swallow dirt for the purpose of making their way through the ground, are all the time throwing out of their bodies the waste material just at the surface of the earth, and this is sufficient to cover the ground and gradually to bury the natural surface. Worms actually cover the earth with about. .22 of an inch of material in each year. This Mir. Darwin proves by an im- mense number of instances. For example, in December, 1s42, broken chalk was spread up- on lot near his place. InNovember, 1871, a trench was dug through the lot and the chalk pieces were found seven inches below the surface. In those twenty-nine years the worms had buried these things to that ex- tent. In one instance, by measuring their deposit over small area, it was calculated that worms (and they are active only half the year) put about eighteen tons upon each acre of surface. They are, indeed, working vast changes all the time. MT. Darwin tells much else about worms and their habits that is new and interesting. Published by D. Alp. pleton & Co.,, New York, and for sale in this city by Judd the bookseller.
 utti-Frutti: A Book of Child Songs," by Laura Ledyard and w. T. Peters, is hand some book for children. There are twenty four poetieal pieces in the volume, each H. frustrated. The verses are presented in a quaint, old fashioned letter and the pictures correspond. Published by George ". Har- Ian, New York, and fors sale in this city by Judd the bookseller.
 St. Nicholas for December comes with a beautiful new cover. The design represents St. Nicholas in his sleigh drawn by six dash ing reindeers over the snow. Two new se- rials are begun: 'sThe Hoosier School Boy, " by the Rev. Edward Egglesten, and Donald and Dorothy" by Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge, the author of that charming story Clans Brinkern Washington Gladden. writes of .sAn Angel in an Ulster ;"s Clara Erskine Clement contributes the sixth paper of ..stories of Art and Artists ;'' Harry M. Keifer contributes more 'Beeellections of g Drummer Boy ;'' James Baldwin presents