It may not be uninstructive if I quote here the adventures of one of the truest of the many stout-hearted men I have known, one indeed who recently died in harness reviewing Mr. Garcke’s article on Electrical Traction in the supplementary volumes of the _Encyclopædia Britannica_. This gentleman was once sent a book to review; the subject, as he had received no special training in it, might have deterred one less bound by the sense of duty. This book was called _The Snail: Its Habitat, Food, Customs, Virtues, Vices, and Future_. It was, as its title would imply, a monograph upon snails, and there were many fine coloured prints, showing various snails occupied in feeding on the leaves proper to each species. It also contained a large number of process blocks, showing sections, plans, elevations, and portraits of snails, as well as detailed descriptions (with diagrams) of the ears, tongues, eyes, hair, and nerves of snails. It was a comprehensive and remarkable work. My friend (whose name I suppress for family reasons) would not naturally have cared to review this book. He saw that it involved the assumption of a knowledge which he did not possess, and that some parts of the book might require very close reading. It numbered in all 1532 pages, but this was including the index and the preface. He put his inclinations to one side, and took the book with him to the office of the newspaper from which he had received it, where he was relieved to hear the Editor inform him that it was not necessary to review the work in any great detail. “Moreover,” he added, “I don’t think you need praise it too much.” On hearing this, the Reviewer, having noted down the price of the book and the name of the publisher, wrote the following words--which, by the way, the student will do well to cut out and pin upon his wall, as an excellent example of what a “short notice” should be:-- “_The Snail: Its Habitat_, &c. Adam Charles. Pschuffer. 21s. 6d. “This is a book that will hardly add to the reputation of its author. There is evidence of detailed work, and even of conscientious research in several places, but the author has ignored or misunderstood the whole teaching of ___________ and the special discoveries of ___________ and what is even more remarkable in a man of Mr. Charles’ standing, he advances views which were already exploded in the days of ___________.” He then took an Encyclopædia and filled up the blanks with the names of three great men who appeared, according to that work, to be the leaders in this branch of natural history. His duty thus thoroughly accomplished and his mind at rest, he posted his review, and applied himself to lighter occupations. Next day, however, the Editor telephoned to him, to the effect that the notice upon which he had spent so much labour could not be used.