New-York tribune., 1900-04-11
has the advantage Of being adapted to use in

the open air, but, on the other hand the ar
rangement Of the text is less convenient It is
more consecutively descriptive it being neces-
sary to read e chapter rather than a paragraph.
In order to get the facts. The system Of terse
paragraphs followed by Neltje Blanchan is, af-
ter all, the ideal one for the student. Mrs. Co
ing's book is illustrated by fairly excellent half
tones and drawings
Remarks similar to those in the preceding
paragraph may be applied to the volumes on
butterflies before The Butterfly Book by
Or. W. j. Holland, follows much the same sys-
tenn as that exemplihed In Natures Garden"
though its erudition is possibly little fuller
And touching this book. too have the same
regretful observation to make. The text is so
clear. and the colored plates so beautiful and
heipiul, that we are sure many a butterfly
hunter VIII deplore the difficulty Of carrying the
book in his knapsack. He would like it, we
think, in two smaller and lighter volumes small
enough perhaps to be carried in the pocket Let
1t be understood. however. that our comment
only implies desire that good book might be
made more convenient, not any better as re-
CARDS its text and its illustrations Everyday
butterflies" has good subtitle, namely. "A
Group Of Biographies" Mr. Scudder is delight
fully lucid and interesting in his descriptions
But ne. too would be more serviceable If he
emulated Dr. Holland and gave US paragraphs
instead of chapters We note in his pages some
colored plates that tolerable, but might be
better Our Insect Friends and Foes is a
workmanlike performance, and only needs col
ored illustrations to reach the first rank as the
descriptions are intelligent and concise The
illustrations are not very satisfactory drawings.
The handful of bird books which we have re-
ceived is of varying but generally mild interest.
Mt kearton's two volumes Our Rarer Brit
uh
respectively are perhaps the most important as
they are richly Illustrated with photograph
plates of an unusual character. The author has
used his camera with extraordinary skill and
judgment, placing before pictures of birds
and nests taken al the closest possible quarters
and at the same time clearly that the illus
trat1ons seem as though they might have been
drawn after hours Of minute study, instead of
being snatched in an instant from nature with
TIE aid of the sun. Moreover, in Wild Life at
Home" Mr.. Kearton gives data as to the best
methods for obtaining difficult snapshots such
as he has secured. The First Book of Birds
F1oughton, Miff1in & Coz, by Olive Thorne Mil
Ter, is meant to interest youngsters and to stim-
ulate them to further study The Illustrations
are just the right sort to train the eye of a child
and the text is written in such a manner as
really to excite his curiosity in the subject. and
to teach him while 1t amuses him. Our Native
Birds (The Macmillan Company, by Mr. D.
Lange, is brief popular treatise with various
suggestive odds and ends including
number Of rhymes on the various birds
meant to fix the latter in the memory of the
young reader. Mr.. Lange gives some good in
formation as to modes of protecting song birds
and Of attracting them to our homes 'Dickey
Downy: The Autobiography of Bird" Phila-
delphia: A. J. Rowland), by Virginia Patterson
is pleasantly written narrative which would
inculcate in the mind of the young reader more
appreciative feeling about birds. 1t is, however,
little too long drawn out. "On the Birds
Highway" Boston: Small Maynard & Coz. b,
Reginald H. Howe, jr. is a series of open air
Impressions telling the authors experiences on
rambles which made him acquainted with beau
ties of landscape, we'll with the habits and
characters of birds 1t is a readable booklet
with real knowledge underlying it's rather dis
cursive method The illustrations charm
ing. With Mr.. Howe's book group Mr..
Grams Little Beasts of Field and Wood" (Bos-
ton: Small. Maynard & Coz, and Mr. Longs
Ways of Wood Folk (Boston: CHM & Coz,
both short volumes in which facts concerning
the smaller animals set forth in elastic mar
rative form. Professor Athinsons Lessons in
Botany" (Henry Holt & Co.., Professor Coulter's
Plant Structures Cd. Appleton & Coz, and
HIenry Holt Co.. all admira BILE textbooks,
characterized by judicous arrangement, concise
definitions and accompanied by good ilustra-
tions In black and white.
Natures Studies in Berkshire" &C. P. Put
nam's Sons), by John Coleman Adams contains
agreeaby written descriptions Of an in
spring region, but the authors style lacks dis
tinction, and while 1t is easy to read him. he
leaves no deep impression. The photogravure
illustrations, on the other hand nothing less
than superb, and alone Justify the publication of
this luxurious volume. Outside the Garden"
John Lane) is a little more satisfying to its
text The author, Mrs. Crofton, is graceful
writer, and she appeals with little more than
the usual force to her reader She has been
lucky in her illustrator. Mr. Edmund H. New,
whose pen drawings realistic and delightful.
The book is very pretty in its makeup. So also
is "A World in Garden CThe Macmillan Com
pany), by R. Neish. which contains some very
artistic illustrations. The text, however is thin
and unnterestng.