I 9 o ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



and Oldham inform us that Cheshire is remarkable for its poverty, 

 and that no single species is common. This poverty, however, is 

 not without interest to the student of geographical and ecological 

 distribution. The amphibians are at full strength, and include the 

 locally dispersed Natterjack. The section on the fishes is contributed 

 by Mr. James Johnstone. The number of forms treated of amounts 

 to 107, regarding which much information of a varied and useful 

 nature is given. An extensive bibliography forms the concluding 

 portion of this volume. 



The volumes, which are admirably got up and abundantly 

 illustrated by half-tone plates from photos devoted to depicting the 

 topography of the area, form a welcome and authoritative contribution 

 to the zoological survey of the British Islands. 



A HISTORY OF BIRDS. By W. P. Pycraft. With an Introduction 

 by Sir Ray Lankester, K.C.B., F.R.S. London: Methuen & Co. 

 i os. 6d. net. 



In this volume, which forms the second of a series of an 

 evolutionary history of animal life, we find Mr. Pycraft at his best 

 as a writer of popular books. The aim of the series, we are told, 

 is to provide, free from technicalities, a graphic history of all that 

 pertains to animal life in relation to the external world, and we 

 congratulate the author on having successfully accomplished his 

 share of so difficult a task. He has brought together, and treated 

 in a lucid and pleasant fashion, a number of factors having an 

 important bearing on bird life which the student of that fascinating 

 subject will not find elsewhere in a single volume. These deal with, 

 among others, the relation of birds to other animals, distribution, 

 seasonal life, migration, relation to environment, inter-relations, social 

 life, nidification, nestlings, plumage, variation, acquired characters, 

 natural and sexual selection, structural adaptations, etc. The volume 

 is excellently and abundantly illustrated, and forms an admirable 

 introduction to the study of bird life. 



LIFE -HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SALMON, SEA-TROUT, 

 TROUT, AND OTHER FRESHWATER FISH. By P. D. Malloch. 

 London: Adam and Charles Black, 1910. IDS. 6d. net. 



Salmon problems, to the consideration of which much of this 

 volume is devoted, are numerous and difficult, and anything which 

 contributes to their elucidation is a most welcome addition to 

 Ichthyological literature. Mr. Malloch has enjoyed exceptional 

 opportunities of studying a number of these problems during many 

 years, and in many waters, and it is probable that his experiences 

 are quite unique. A book written by an author such as this is 

 worthy of the perusal of all who are interested in a series of very 

 complicated and vexed questions. On many of these Mr. Malloch 

 throws much light, while on others his suggestive remarks will be of 



