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than is usually supposed. They are conspicuously present in French class-books, but their absence is too often as conspicuous in English ones.

The author states in his preface that his chief difficulty has been in the selection of suitable plants to illustrate the natural orders, especially as types which are common in some parts of India, are absent in others. We think, however, that he has been extremely judicious in his selection, which certainly required no little local knowledge, and he has very properly recorded his obligations in this respect to our two great authorities on Indian botany. Dr. Hooker and Dr. Thomson.

If we were required to point out the especial part of the volume in which we think the author's tact has been more peculiarly developed, we would instance that in which he might be supposed to be least familiar. We have read with pleasure the observations on the cryptogamic orders, in admiration of the immense mass of information which is condensed within a short compass, and of its intrinsic value. We are glad to observe that some definitions are to be found in the very copious index, which did not come within the author's views in the text, and it would add greatly to their value if in a future edition little illustrations of such matters could be added in the margin. We have selected some woodcuts, which are fair specimens of the 240 engravings in the book.

Now that original observers in every branch of natural history are to be found in all civilised countries, it is only by means of such reports as this that the working naturalist can keep himself acquainted with the actual state even of that department of his science which he himself more particularly cultivates. When, as in the present case, a man of real eminence as a naturalist has at his command all the chief languages of Europe, and gives us year by year no mere dry list of papers but full analyses accompanied by critical remarks, we feel that it is not easy to exaggerate the importance of his labours as affecting the general progress of zoology. For the sake of any worker who may be unacquainted with Prof Leuckart's reports, we may mention that they embrace the groups Vermes, Echinodermata, Coelenterata, and Protozoa, as defined by German writers. The Rotiferi and Bryozoa are included under the Vermes.

The horticultural portion of this work, occupying its first nine chapters, is a digest of some of our best English authors on the subject. Chapter IX., on the Diseases and Insects attacking the Rose, is confessedly little more than a reproduction of the writings of Harris on the same topic, and of use only to the American cultivator.

The historical part, contained in Chapters X. to XV., exhibits a remarkable collation of gleanings from history—ancient, mediaeval, or modern—of legends, fables, ceremonies, &c., all having some connection (although in some instances rather remote) with the rose. R. C. K.

The popularity of these well-known volumes may be looked upon as a standing protest against the common opinion that the exact study of natural objects is inimical to a poetic conception and romantic love of nature. We know of no more delightful New Year's gift for an intelligent boy than Dr. Gosse's eloquent and well-illustrated work.

This is a first-rate picture-book of animals for children. The text is not up to the level of the woodcuts.

These are addresses delivered, on the occasion of the recent Humboldt Centenary, before the Prussian Academy of Sciences, and the joint meeting of the scientific societies of Berlin. The memoir of Professor Dove records many interesting personal characteristics of the great German savant.

The Acclimatation (or, as we term it, Acclimatisation) Society of Paris, was founded in 1854, and appears to be in a most flourishing and active condition. The beautiful gardens of the society in the Bois de Boulogne are known to every visitor of Paris; but the work done by the society can be best judged of by glancing at its "Bulletins." An important part of the operations of the society consists in the distribution of animals and plants to its members, who may wish to experiment in endeavouring to acclimatise such useful species as the society may obtain. Pisciculture of all kinds, marine and freshwater, occupies a large share of the attention of the society; ostreo-culture also and the coral-fisheries—which the French Government has most anxiously fostered on the coast of Algeria—are noticed in articles giving account of recent progress in these departments of industry. The cultivation of the silkworm, however, calls forth the most notable exertions of the society. Large districts in the south of France are given up to this employment. On some of the limestone plateaux north of Nimes—which are bare for miles and present no soil—holes are excavated, and the necessary earth in which to place the mulberry-trees which are to feed the crops of silkworms reared by the inhabitants of this district is fetched from thirty miles' distance—so valuable is the crop of silk when obtained. To these "Bulletins" we shall return as they make their monthly appearance. At present, on glancing through the year's accumulation, we find, amongst other facts of more than economical interest, an account of the introduction of the salmon of the Rhine into the Lake of Geneva. It has always been held doubtful as to whether salmon could thrive when access to the sea was impossible. The great length of the Rhone, and the overpowering force of its waters at the spot near Bellegarde, called la perte du Rhóne, renders the Lake of Geneva practically closed from communication with the sea for all icthyological purposes. Hence it is exceedingly interesting to find that success has attended the efforts of Dr. Chavannes and others to introduce the Rhine salmon to this area. Specimens, put in among many thousand others in 1857, have been recaptured, weighing over four pounds, and with roe; whilst others, evidently the offspring of these, have been also taken. Further experiments are being made on an actually closed lake.