New-York tribune., 1900-12-08
MANUALS FOR STUDENTS AND SPORTS
MEN

2iO. r. p Dutton & Co.
ANIMALS OF AFRICA BY II. A. Bryden .,n Illus s
trated by F: caldwell Octave pp N'' Nv
p. Dutton & CO.
FAMILIAR FISH Their Habits and s caPSgTe Fisb nv "
Practical Book on Fresh & Water w Terrroction by DR..
pp. xiv. M6 d Appleton a Co
THE BROOK TROUT AND THE IfaI5 illus
trated l6mo pp n. The r. p. Grow FuOi'S''''7
Company.
METHODS Tl THE ART OF TAXIDERMn:, By
Oliver Dsvie Ninety Full Page EnSraNNiiiTD ms NJ n
chiefly Drawn by Theod9,9re JasPSTi David M Nc
Kay.
ANIMAL LIFE. A First Book q Zoology s o,aBS BS
David s Jordan l,,.-';v IL. ~ and vernon l.
Kellogg NJ s Illustrated. l2mo, PIP TX 81 ~
Nrr nuemores book on Bird Homes con-
tHins admirable text the descriptions all Delhs
terse and lucid but the chief merit OF the puoA-
cation lies in its Illustrations. number OF "hoh
s-e rr5rted in eolors. All the plates are taken
from the artists own photographs. Ihese aie Va
sxceptional iuterest in that the photographs
has contraved 10 take all Of his subjects pre-
ciselv as they exist in the fields and woods he
s,sts practically the last touch Of nature where
nature IS peculiarly elusive and reucehI III
mates like those Of Crested Flycatchers I"o
Davs BEFORE Leaving Nest" and Male Rose
Breasted Grosbeak one Year Old. Takng d
Sun Bath" Mr.. Dugmore demonstrates lhal inc
possibiities OF work with camera are pretty
nearly flinitable. In many Of his photographs
the birds are shown on their nests. surprised IN
moments OF the purest intimacy no" ne uoS
n IS beyond our comprehension.
Mr. Frank NJ Chapman, in his Bird Studies
With Camera" eniightens our ignorance. His
little volume gives all necessary information as
N outfit. and in !ts recital of the authors own
how the thing is done Patience, we gather, Is
spdispensable TO the photographer Of birds IN
their native haunts. but there are divers olher
matters important 10 learn. and on these MI
CHAPMAN writes fully and helpfuy. His IL
Illustrations. taken fron; photographs of his own
making are printed in perfect half tones he
has been lucky himself. discovering many an
attractive subject in moments happily aoapleo
10 his purpose. We can pay no warmer tribute
% his hook than TO say that it fills US with a
desire TO obtain camera and follow in his loot
steps.
Mr.. Charles A Keeler has written in his Bird
Notes hheld" a number Of essays on the birds OF
California, which are numerous and beautiful
There are more than two hundred numbers In
the descriptive list which closes the volume
The informal chapters which make the body OF
the book are so well written that We wish there
were Illustrations 10 accompany them. MI
Keeer has apparently a keen eye, and writes
with understanding, but birds can never be
presented so well in words in drawings or
photographs
Mr. Burroughss Squirrels and Other Fur
Bearers is one Of the best books he has ever
written. II is a comparatively small group OF
animals with which he deals, and this fact
enables him to paint the portrait OF each one
Of his subjects at full length. He celebrates the
and he he and
the hare, the muskrat and the skunk. the fox,
weasel mink raccoon porcupine, opossum and
wild mouse. Each one Of these he has observed
with devotion, that he is able 10 tell us much
about the secret habits of his little friends.
Days and weeks Of faithful watching have gone
20 the making Of this little book. and with them
also we must reckon as chief factor the authors
love Of his subject and his pleasant illuminating
way OF writing about II. The illustrations are
admirable.
The library for Young NatursHsts" a series
OF books edited by Mr. F. C. Ahalo the well
known English naturalist. is intended to steer
a middle course between "the more advanced
manuals for adult readers and the one syllable
picture books Of the nursery" To this end
technical pedantry is firmly eschewed, and a
thorough but unconventional method is adopted.
The first volume. Types Of British Animals ."
is by the editor himself The second, Animals
OF Africa" is by Mr.. II. A. Dryden. Both books
tell plain tale in a manner well calculated
successfully 10 appeal to the young reader. and
the illustrations are. for the purposes Of the
series. all that could be desired.
The ichthyoogist is almost necessarily an
angler, and accordingly Mr.. Eugene Mccarthy.
author OF Familiar Fish" has something TO
say about rods and tackle about flies and fisher
mems outfits in general But he is also elo-
usznfo m he chs Of sRa
with which he deals and his book well deserves
the kindly predatory note which has been writ
ten for il by President David Starr Jordan A
frontispiece entitled How Not to Catch FISH,
reveals stalWart fisherman purchasing a string
OF fish from small boy. Whether the man who
goeth forth in the morning 10 FISH will be re-
duced TO this shameful expedient or not is a
matter for the gods TO decide. but certainly il
he reads Mr.. McCarthys book with care he will
have fitted himself for a more creditable ter
mination 10 his days sport. Mr. c B. Brad
fO.d's booklet The Brook Trout and the De-
terTnined Angler" is a sheaf Of little more than
threescore pages in praise Of the authors IA
vorite fish He writes with enthusiasm. delight
ing TO tell us Of some notable catches. bur he
does not forget that many Of his readers Will
thGnk him most for good advice He gives
them plenty OF il, and in good form The book
is thing OF scraps. OF little anecdotes and OBJ
servations, hut both the angler and the laymar
VIII md II decidedly worth reading.
Er. Davies Methods in the Art Of Taxidermv'
IS manual notable for thoroughness and clarity
In the text snd for practicality in the illustra.
tions. The author writes an interesting his
tOrical INTRODUCTION. gives Information as to in
struments. materials workmanship preserva-
tves ane so on, describes the skinning and
mounting OF birds and deals as well with the
mounting OF animals. fishes reptiles. etc He