Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/69

Rh such it might be difficult to place a better book in the hands of a young enquiring sea-side naturalist. The illustrations are numerous and helpful.

edition of this well-known Manual will be undoubtedly welcomed by those to whom it is addressed. "The object of this little Manual is to enable the novice to collect, identify, and arrange systematically the various shells—both land and freshwater—which abound in almost every part of these islands."

Apart from this modest programme there are some features of general interest to the biologist. Thus Dr. Scharff, in his 'Slugs of Ireland,' is inclined to the opinion that the colours of slugs in that island are at all ages, as a rule, protective. Mr. Adams, however, considers that "the results of his own collecting tend to show that climate may be a factor in the matter." Dealing with inland localities, he finds that he has "taken more brilliant forms, and those more abundantly, in the South of England (where the climate is warmer) than in the north." His experience has been the same with coast localities. "All along the south coasts of England and Wales, Cardigan Bay, and the west coast of the Isle of Man and north coast of Ireland (all of which are noted for a mild climate), I have taken coloured forms abundantly; while on the coasts of Lancashire and North Wales and the east coast of England from the Thames to the Tees (where the climate is more bracing), I have no personal records for anything but the type."

This little book is not only calculated to increase the ardour of the young collector, but, what is more, make him a student of Conchology. Such primers did not exist when we were young, and it would seem—as we hope is the fact—that a taste for Natural History is increasing with the reading public. The lines of the youthful zoologist of to-day are indeed made pleasant.