25 NOVEMBER 1893, Page 25

Anima/ Adventures. By Ascott R. Hope. (Nimmo, Hay, and Mitchell,

Edinburgh.)—Various 'animals, assisted by Mr. Aseott Hope's clever pen, give autobiographical sketches. The black- beetle, for instance, describes life from his point of view. We must own that, in spite of all his advocate can do for him, he remains as odious and frightful an object as ever. The ass, the bee, the sparrow, and various other animals discourse, either singly or in company, in pleasant and instructive fashion. This is a readable little book.