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of our readers will have been made cognizant of the recent great "boom" of the last edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' and doubtless those who could spare the cash, and, what was far more necessary, room, have acquired those excellent volumes. We are glad to notice a very useful and novel publication on the same lines in the 'Temple Encyclopædic Primers,' published by J.M. Dent & Co., in which each subject occupies a small and very inexpensive volume, handy in size, nicely printed, and well illustrated. This method allows selection by those who limit their subjects, and who have already congested shelves. Two only of those yet published have appertained to our domain. One—"An Introduction to Science," by Dr. Alexander Hill, Master of Downing, Cambridge—cannot be considered foreign to our studies, for it admirably conveys what should philosophically qualify many of our conceptions and conclusions on what, are often, but materialistic appearances, while pointing to a moderate and healthy idealism. The second primer is on "Ethnology," by Dr. Michael Haberlandt, of the Ethnological Museum, Vienna, which will hold its place among other much larger and more pretentious publications on the subject.

have received the 'Illustrated Annual of Microscopy' for this year, published by Percy Lund, Humphries & Co. Ltd. Besides very much useful information regarding method of work and appliances, for those who study the small things of life, and, as says a motto on the publications of the French Entomological Society, "Natura maxime miranda in minimis," there are also some strictly biological articles. Mr. D.J. Scourfield has given a beautifully illustrated article on "A Hyaline Daphnia"; Mr. W.M. Webb has written on "Some Mollusca and the Microscope"; and "British Fresh-water Mites—Arrenurus" is the subject of Mr. C.D. Soar. As this last author well remarks, "very few workers in Britain have taken up this part of pond-life at present." Mr. Macer describes "A unique method of exhibiting microscopically a living fly in the act of feeding." These are the bionomic facts which will revolutionise the zoology of the future. We would fain hear more from microscopists in these pages.

the last (April) number of the 'Auk' is a most interesting communication entitled "Care of Nest and Young," by Francis H. Herrick. We can only give the following extracts:—"It is plainly advantageous for birds which breed on or near the ground to remove every particle of litter which