The sun., 1908-04-18
Nature.


A thoroughly practical book. the most
useful aid to knowledge Of the trees that
has yet appeared, Is Mr., Romeyn Beck
Houghs Handbook Of the Trees Of the
Northern States and Canada Fast Of the
Rocky Mountains (Harpers.) On every
two pages, placed face to face. win be
found the complete history OF a tree. on
the one the picture Of the leaf. flower and
bud, on the other that Of the trunk, both
marked with the scale that gives the right
proportions. In addition there is a compact
but full description Of the tree, a clear
little chart showing its distribution, and
whenever necessary a cut displaying tho
character of the wood. Moro than 200
trees arc treated in this way. ahording in
the briefest possible space the information
that is needed by tree students woods
men and the general pubic. The intro
ductory pages, the synopsis Of trees at the
eud and the glossary are helpful and inn
portant. The plan Of the work has been
thought out carefully. the execution ia
admirable, 50 that all interested in trees
will find in Mr., HouRhs book Just what
they need.
The versatility Of Miss Julia Ellen Rogers
Is shown by her turning quickly from the
study Of trees 10 that Of mollusks in The
Shell Book Doubleday, Page and Com
panyj. This contains very interesting pop
uiar accounts Of the various classes Of shell.
fish, followed by scientihc descriptions Of
the chief species, profusely illustrated.
Much important information will he found
here about tho oyster, the clam. the snail
the scallop. the whelk and other toothsome
morsels. Science excludes the lobster. the
Crawfish, the crab and the shrimp, though
II demands tho inclusion Of the octopus
and the squid. Tho chief interest in the
book however, lies in its enabling tho
reader TO identify the shells Of ocean, re-
gardless Of their inhabitants. II IL we'll
done hit Of popularization OF scien tific
knowledge and is offered in very handsome
topographic shape,
The accuracy Of Mr.. John Burroughs's
observation Of nature is well established
even apart from the sanction of higher
authority. 1t is pleasant, all the same, 70
notice how the consciousness Of the favor
Of bis great and good friend permeates his
later articles, collected In Leaf and Tendril'
(Houghton, Mflin and Company. This
includes the arragnment Of nature fakirs,'
a theme that Is touched on repeatedly.
Mr. Burroughss natural admiration for
Mr Roosevelt gives somewhat neculiar
touch TO his charming essays. A most i'm
pressve incident that will attract attention
is his holding up skunk by its tail with
out unpleasant results 10 himself Mr..
Burroughs unfortunately neglects TO tell
how he managed 20 catch the skunk or
what he did with him after he had caught
him.
Some very entertaining sporting stories
are told by Mr. Alexander Hunter In The
Huutsman in the South" (The Neale Publish
ing Company These are breezy tales Of
fox and coon hunting, and more particu-
larry Of bird shooting on the Virginia and
North Carolina coasts. Incidentally there
are delightful pictures Of country life. In
the days before the war and after, and
the story of the destruction OF Cobbs
Island by the sea is thrilling apart from
any sportsman's interest.