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will be the case. In his heraldic introduction our author, while paying small heed to totemistic theories of the origin of heraldry, is at pains to trace from Greek vases of five and six hundred B.C. the Hellenic equivalent of our heraldic system. Illustrations, reproduced from Greek and Etruscan vases, show on the shields of heroes and demigods devices such as an eagle displayed, a demi-boar salient, and two white " lyons rampant, regardant. As a frontispiece he reproduces a bronze shield found in the river Witham, dating from the begin- ning of our era, showing the boar, the national symbol of the Celtic tribes of Gaul and Britain. For symbols of the Normans at the period of the English conquest the Bayeux tapestry, of which constant use is made, is invaluable. The incor-

S >ration by Richard III. of the Heralds' College r. Foster regards as "ill-starred," and he pro- mises to show in his forthcoming 'Ancestral Families' that the " History of official Heraldry is written and embodied in the petty commercial jealousies of Heralds," and in other shortcomings.

A plate of Geoffrey, Count of Anjou (ob. 1150), father of Henry II., is given from an enamelled tablet in the Museum of Mans, the lions on the shield being said to be "perhaps" the earliest specimens of armorial bearings. The accounts name the rolls from which the arms are taken, the Bering Roll being considered to be the earliest of the rolls assigned to Henry III. An alphabetical arrange- ment is observed. The escutcheons are in black and white, the colours being readily supplied by the reader acquainted with the science of blazon from the accompanying description. Full-pag achievements and pedigrees are given where sue are obtainable, and figures from monumental brasses and other sources are of frequent occurrence. Under Beauchamps, Earls of Warwick, occur some most interesting plates, one of them being a presentation of " Richard, Erie of Beauchamp, justyng at Gynes " circa 1410, where " he cast to the grounde at his spere poynt, behynde the horse taile, the Knight called the Chevaler Ruge." This is from the Cotton MS. Julius E. IV. in the British Museum, and the views of the king, the heralds, trumpeters, &c., and the spectators, some of them in apparent danger from the horses of the combatants, are very striking. The figures reproduced are not wholly those of " knights and barons bold," but include "store of ladies " Bohun, wife of Sir Peter Arderne, from Latton Church, Essex; Elizabeth second wife of Sir Roger Northwoode, from Minster Church, Isle of Sheppey ; and Joice widow of Sir John Tiptoft, from Entield Church Under the arms of Howard, Earl of Surrey for bearing which he was attainted and executec 21 January, 1547, Mr. Foster has the note, "I does seem rather hard that a man should lose hi head for using arms fabulously ascribed to a person who never bore arms those of Edward the Con fessor." Among the designs from rubbings are those of King Edward III., from Elsing Church, Norfolk and Edward, the Black Prince, from Canterbury Cathedral. Some of the achievements given ar modern. Among them are those of the Marques of Salisbury and Viscount Wolseley. At the clos< of the work are given some pages of ' Men of Coa Armour, their Bearings ana Badges,' to be pub lished by the same author, intended to contain th arms and badges of most county families. To d full justice to Mr. Foster's work requires specia knowledge, which few except heralds possess

Ir. Foster fights strenuously and successfully gainst the abuses of modern heraldry, is in favour i important alterations in the constitution and roceedings of the College of Arms, and would pparently abolish the system of paid grants to ' newly armigerous " persons. Into these matters we may not follow him. His work has, however, )rofound interest for all who indulge in the study f heraldry, and the innumerable zinco reproduc- ions of drawings from the Bayeux tapestry, from eals, later heraldic rolls, &c., give the work artistic alue. The lightness observable in a form of art ften cumbrously and heavily treated is specially iraiseworthy.

The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Edited from Numerous Manuscripts by the Rev. Walter Skeat, Litt.D. (Oxford, Clarendon Press.) E welcome, as an addition to the " Oxford r'oets," the completed works of Chaucer in the excellent edition of Prof. Skeat. Glad as we are to possess the works of a great poet in the landsomest form, we can find in our hearts to write ,n encomium of the one-volume edition. For pur- )oses of pleasure we more often use the one- volume edition than its more pretentious predecessor and rival. Editions of Shakespeare, Tennyson, Moliere, Sec. we do not confine ourselves to the Clarendon Press editions, though in some cases these are the Dest which can be slipped into the pocket and taken on an excursion are among the most desir- able things in life. With his thousand pages including the glossarial index, which is of too much importance to be omitted Chaucer is far too heavy and bulky for the pocket. It may, however, which is the next best thing, be carried in a handbag, a com- panion in railway carriage and hotel room, of resting hours in a stroll or a lounge. As the title indicates, the entire works are given the translation of Boethius and the ' Treatise on the Astrolabe,' as well as 'The Romaunt of the Rose' and 'The Canterbury Tales.' It is a great comfort to have the glossary immediately at hand. Prof. Skeat's fine edition, with its broad gold lettering, smiles at us pleasantly and complacently as we write. It is a book in which to delectatc. The new edition will be a more accessible work, and will enjoy a more sociable intimacy. Perhaps even who knows? it may be our cherished companion in the excursion forthwith to be taken.

The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.

By Charles Darwin, F.R.S. (Murray.) IN order to take the wind out of the sails of those who, counting on the approaching expiration of copyright in Darwin's ' Origin of Species,' are pre- paring cheap reprints, Mr. Murray has issued in a popular form the authorized and completed edition, which does not lose copyright for some years to come. To whatever cause its appearance may be due, this shilling Darwin is an inestimable boon to thousands of readers. As regards appearance and legibility it leaves nothing to be desired.

Indian Fables. Collected and edited by P. V.

Ramaswami Raju. (Sonnenschein & Co.) THIS collection of Indian fables by Prof. Ramas- wami Raju appeals strongly to the lover of folk- literature. Thanks to the illustrations of Mr. 1. Carruthers Gould, it will be welcome to children also. More than a hundred fables have been brought together, many of them derived from original