BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Macmillan's Magazine : Mactnillan and Co., 29 and 30, Bedford-street, Strand, London.—The December number is to hand. Mr. G. Saint3bury contributes an excellent article on " Three Humorists." Hook, Barham, and Maginn, men who were all contemporaries in life and still more in literature, who all pursued a peculiar kind of humorous writing to which the institution new in their day of the lighter kind of periodical literature gave opportunities impossible before their date. " The New Athens" is an interesting article on the influence of Grecian art, mid on the exploration for antiquities in Greece. There is a second paper on " Descriptive Music," by W. H.T. In the former paper, the writer dealt with Sir Arthur Sullivan's " Golden Legend," and in this one, he deals with Schubert's remarkable song, " The Erl King," as illustrating how composers have been ; led to form their ideas of descriptive music. The remaining articles are "A Discourse on the Homilies," " A Four-footed Oddity," and " Loaves from a Note Book," giving quaint bits of history. The number is a very readable one. Chambers's Journal : W. and R. Chambers, London and Edinburgh.—The December number ia to hand. The leading article is "The First Oratorio," by J. . F. , Rowbotham, author of The History of Music," and which contains a good deal of information of Interest to lovers of music. "The Story of a Palace" is the history of a building henceforth to be the borne of the Royal United Service Institution. Once a Royal banqueting house, then a picture auction room, again sanctified as the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, and last of all secularised for the purposes of a Naval and Military Museum. "Oyster Culture in France" shows us what skill .and science can do in that branch of industry. 'An interesting article is contributed on "Modern Sailing Ships. " Wingless Birds," by Fred. V. Theobald, 8.A., F.R.S., in a paper treating of the peculiar wingless birds of New Zealand, living and extinct, as well as those of other countries. Mrs. Lynn Linton contributes a bright piquant article on "The Ethics of Hotel Life." "The Home of a Hero"' give« some reminiscences of General Gordon's residence in Southampton; and "The Aborigines of Australia"'is the old story of a barbarous 'race fading before civilisation. There is a thoughtful article on " What Is Wealth?" " A South Atlantic Mystery" is a weird tale of the sea. This number is one of the best we have seen for some time for varied and interesting reading. a '-' [ rtniy The Australian Bee Bulletin.—We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the Australian Bee Bulletin for Decem- 5 ber, published by E. Tipper, West Maitland, New South Wales. • The contents of the present number are varied, and ;of general interest to all - bee-keepers. A feature has been introduced which cannot fail to be of interest and to prove useful.' It is the publication of a series of questions of interest to bee-keepers or honey-sellers, to be answerod the following month.' This method is bringing out a good deal of ; the experience of; the readers, and will thus place ' the' experience of different' 1 beeworkers in the possession of - others <in a very pleasant manner. As it is the only journal published in the Australasian colonies wholly devoted to bee keeping, beekeepers will find it to their interest to put themselves in the way of knowing ; whr.t is doing in the bee business. ' . ' Z 5 ";