BOOK NOTICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 55

BOOK NOTICE.

"Animal Life : and the World of Nature." A magazine of natural history throughout the world. Parts I & 11. Monthly, 7d net. London: Hutchinson & Co. Dunedin : R. J. Stark & Co. Messrs Hutchinson's newest venture is a thing of more striking merit than either their "Living Races of Mankind" or "Living Animals of the World." It is with real pleasure that I recommend this latest comer into the world of magazinedom to the notice of all readers interested in plant and animal lore and existence. How it is possible to produce a superbly-illustrated magazine such as this at a price which seems merely nominal is something of a .mystery, whatever circulation has been reckoned upon for it. And when, as perusal of the first and second numbers abundantly shows, the very best writers upon natural history, botany, and anthropology have been engaged to contribute the reading matter in the form of set articles, the •wonder grows how the thing can be dener When I mention that the two numbers now before me contain articles by Lord Avebury (Sir John Lubbock— "The Life of Plants"'), fcofepsor R. L. Garner ("Monkey Land'"), Mr Fred Enock ("Life History of the Brimstone Butterfly"), Sir Harry Johneton ("The Great Apes"), Professor F. E. Hulme ("The Death's Head Moth"), it is reasonable to infer that if its early promise is kept up,' the new treasury of natural history is destined to eclipse everything of the kind hitherto attempted in the way of popular scientific exposition. In my own view a striking characteristic of "Animal Life" is embodied in the fact that the chief articles have been written from what may be called an assured evolutionary standpoint. Than Sir Harry Johnston's splen-didly-illustrated paper on "The Great Apes" I have not read anything more refreshingly modern for months, and much the same may be said of Professor R. L. Garner's "Monkey Land." Just as Lord Avebury must be allowed to speak from first-hand knowledge of the marvels of wayside weed existence in "The Life of Plants," these authors give in boldly unc nvcntional manner their own observations and reasonings upon these strange denizens of African forests, the chimpanzee and gorilla. Both authorities, having had abundant opport\inities of watching these remarkable animals "at home," have, as may be inferred, many kind things to say about them — things well calculated to remove many prejudices based on misinformation and wrong inference still largely current. In short, if anything can stimulate healthy interest in bird, beast, fish, reptile, insect, and plant existence, the contents of this well-planned magazine are very likely to succeed in doing so. It is, therefore, with real cordiality that I give a hearty word df welcome to a production which I feel certain is destined to do much good in widening human sympathy for animal life, and vastly extending interest in the realm of living nature generally. The illustrations alone are triumphs of modern achievement, immensely superior for their purpose to the pretentious steel. copper, and wood engravings of the past. Each part contains 70 or more ilu^trations — many of them direct from f-kilfullv-exe-cuted photographs, the rest from drawings done by the most celebrated artist-scientists of to-day. Of the latter three are full-page plates in colours which, as examples of reproductive art, are equal to anything to be found in the costlie&t publications. In addition to the articles named, there are many others by well-known authors, -while ample room is left for Notes and Comments, Animal Anecdotes, Zoo Notes. Our Domestic Pets, etc., all being attractive'.y dealt with and beautifully illustrated. This is pre-eminently a magazine to be desired by all who wish for useful knowledge of Nature and man conveyed in a pleasant and delightful manner. Dixorxis.