New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14

gTsEngs b. n. kdhner-, T. SpechI, p. J. sInit
@. Autzel, a. 4. ELVES. :. Wolf. Gambler Bo!-
I9n f. -. 2 g. and many others IN six six yS 9!
Ing Company.
X is said that old lady, after reading the
dictionary through, remarked that she found 1T
highly interesting. but the plot seemed discon-
nected. An encyclopedia that treats of the
whole animal creation stands a different
basis Nobody perhaps would read 1t al
through ike a novel but. having referred
10 II for Information point, the possessor
would certainly be tempted 20 continue the
perusal after satisfying bis curiosity on the
particular question that troubled him. Extraor-
binary ss is the variety OF form Of activity
among the creatures belonging to the animal
kingdom. there Is relationship. either close or
remote. between them all. They have their diff
serences. but they also have their reserlblances.
That is dull mind I'm which desire is not
easily excited 10 study both affinites and dis
tingu!shing peculiaIities in the long run direct
observation-of the quail the trout, the bull
frog the butterfly. for instances the most
valuable method Of study It is impossible,
though. for a person 10 apply this system to
moro than a few species. II he wants to obtain
q good general idea of animated nature as a
whole he must acquire it by finding out what
other people have observed. This is particularly
own. but Il not infrequently happens that one in
this way learns new things even about his
nearest neighbors.
Books natural history written for sew
eral classes OF people. One is made up Of zoolo-
gists. who far from numerous, who are in
terested in the purely scientific side Of the sub
3ect and who liable to employ a kind OF
phraseology which is hard TO understand
much larger class Is made up Of people Of in
telligence. both young and old. who have had no
special training in science or at least in this
department OF science. For them the requisite
information must be supplied by biologists.
Such readers will demand two things from these
experts. They will want the facts TO be pre-
sented in intelligibla language and they will ask
for some assurance that the writers compe-
tent The Library here under discussion is
meant for the second of these groups OF read
ers, and IL meets the requirements just men
toned IN a highly gratifying manner Occa-
sionaIly the men who have contributed TO 1t use
an expression that will send a person TO his
dictionary, but in the main their style is popular.
and at times il is positively fascinating.
Mr. Lydekker. who on the title page is mod
estly called 1.-The editor is really the author Of
the great bulk of the material here presented
Two and half volumes are devoted to the most
important group of animals. the mammals, and
volume and a half are given TO birds, and fully
half of the chapters that subject were written
by him The fifth volume, which discusses rep
tiles and fishes was written entirely by Mr..
Iydelker. Three other men have helped him on
birds, and six eight furnished the facts for
the last volume relative TO the lowest orders OF
animal life AS the assistants were selected by
the editor himself. and their contributions
have passed under his eye. he is himself re-
sponsible for the whole encyclopedia. Now,
Richard Lydekker is one of the foremost living
authorities on natural history. He is an Eng
lishman, but has extended his study to the whole
world He enjoys high reputation for thor
oughness and accuracy while at the same time
writing in a singularly pleasing manner. IT
would be hard TO find any one better qualified
for the work in question.
The frequency with which American animals
receive recognition. though it is sometimes BRIEF
is a good feature Of this series of volumes.
South American monkeys are treated with sur
prising fulness. The bears, panthers, badgers,
Weasels and seals Of this country are differen-
tiated from those of the of the world. That
which makes our turtles. quail and orioles. our
bulifrogs and even our fieas unlike other ones
is indicated. Such fine points Of difference as
the shape OF the nostril-which distinguishes
the American cuckoo from the European species
are occasionally specified. Several creatures
which peculiar TO the New World, like the
terrapin. rice bird. clam and katydid, are often
included in the survey. Indeed, once in while
there is & reference some forms Of life that
were found on this continent thousands-possi-
bly, millions-of years ago. among them those
colossal reptiles the dinosaurs.
Particularly instructive are the Introductory
pages of each OF the chief divisions Of this
work, in which the most conspicuous traits of
large groups OF animals outlined. One is
thus enabled TO grasp the principles which
creatures that are apparently very dissimilar
are associated together by geological authorities.
He learns, for instance, that the young Of
mammals are born alive and sucked by
their mothers. Bats look little like birds. but
they GO not lay eggs. So, too. with whales and
porpoises These popularity supposed TO be
fishes. but that idea is erroneous. They suckle
their young. Besides, they warm blooded.
while fish not A characteristics, not only OF
mammals. but also of birds and some reptiles,
IS that they have four limbs, less per-
fecfly developed. The front pair in a whale
contain all the bones properly belonging TO
such members. though not proportional like
those OF a mans arm a dogs front leg.
The rear limbs greatly dwarfed. but there
are distinct hints of them. For a long time nat
uraiists were puzzled by the Australian duckbill.
IT reserrbled the reptile in laying eggs, but also
sucked the young when Matched. Here is a
connecting link between two classes. and for a
long time biologists did not know whether to
assign Il 90 one OF these TO put It in & class
by itself. They have now agreed il calling it
a mammal but they put II down at the very
foot Of the scale, even below the whales and
seals.
II the naturalist is sometimes bothered by the
discovery OF an animal that he never heard OF