New-York tribune., 1907-08-24
Literary Net0s and Criticism.

anu ASf DOOh would be valuable II II presented
nothing but the plates. AS it is. her careful
sketch of three flower families growing wild in
this country-the lily family proper. the ny-of-
the-valley family and the orchis famiy-is emf
nently useful May the fairy loveliness she has
caught in her drawings move the saunterers in
woodland ways to leave unmolested the wild
flowers already growing too fewl The rarest
and fairest have been mercilessly slaughtered
There is an agreeable mixture of sentiment
and sportsmanship in Mr.. McGaffey's little book
Fishing and shooting furnish most of the sub
Jects OF these essays. Here is picture Of a
feminine angler which is a just example of the
authors manner: THE proverbial patience of
woman is not at its best in angling. Where q
ooWntroGden worm of a man will sit meeky
Tor hours glaring at cork woman will lift
the bait twenty times in half hour to see if
there was not a nibbe. She is impatience itself
If the fish do not exert themselves to bite and
she rapidly gets Disguised if they quit biting
after having started in with promising sudden
ness, If she is of a dreamy poetic nature. she
Will he calling attention to some lovely bit of
color in the west or north at critical moments
when sturdy perch or obtrusive bluegill have
gone down with the cork. When she recovers
her angling instinct the bait is all gone and she
will straightway forget the glory of the shore
and sky in lamenting the perndy of the fish that
got away"
Mrs Dickerson's book on North American
frogs and toads is not only genuine boon to
students of nature, it is matter of entertain
ment for any reader who happens to possess in
telligent curiosity concerning animal life. The
text reveals long and minute study of the
Salentia. and the three hundred or more photo
graphs made by the author from living material
are strikingly accurate. clear and spirited. In
the color plates the tints of life are rendered
with unusual delicacy and truth Mrs. Dicker-
son avoids any eXaltation of the batrachians
which she has evidently studied with enthusiasm
There are but few gIimmerngs" she says Of
toads. "of anything above automatic response
10 stimuli. behavior resulting from reflex actions
and hereditary instincts. They certainly form
crude ideas Of food and enemies. They evi-
IDENTIFY associate certain stimuli with crude
ideas. such as the coming of enemy some
thing To eat. It has been proved by experiment
that they may associate two kinds of stimuli
After having received an electric shock on
touching given wires they afterward leap as
soon they touch the wires and before the
electric current is turned on. Frogs are
more excited by fear than toads. A frog when
frightened will dash into anything or from any
height y toad will proceed to the edge Of a
table window and stop to examine the sur
when roughly seized by an enemy, but it is left
uncertain whether this IS artlice or actual in
sensibility. Monsieur Bufo's habits and work
in life the author praises warmly:
The toad has been greatly maligned by stories Of
its poisonous effects on man and mans belong
ings Instead of bringing i'll luck, the gentle fellow
l.; Of greatest blessings. The toad has come
TO Our gardens and 10 the very doors OF houses
because he can get an abundance of food there;
also because. of mans domestic animals.
be escapes some Of his natural enemies Tho
Of hra FfYfaf afVad
in this country well In others. For many
years gardeners in France have been glad 10 Duy
toadS in order TO have them insect destroyers.
The toad eats almost all kinds of small liv-
ing things that out in the late afternoon and
at night. He may sit for hour on the
back step and catch the flies and mosquitoes that
come 10 the screen door in their attempt 10 get
into the house.
Beetles. potato bugs. sugs. caterpillars-all
the creatures the gardener Ioathes the toad
dimes upon with satisfaction Useful and fault
less in his day and generation. he deserves sim
cere respect and admiration.