64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



exceedingly valuable effort to show the present state of our know- 

 ledge regarding the plant and animal inhabitants of the Isle of 

 Wight. In addition to the lists of species, of which the book is 

 necessarily in great part composed (several of which are illustrated 

 by excellent photographic reproductions of the rarer animals), space 

 has been found for interesting chapters on the Geology and on 

 the Meteorology of the island, and on Discoveries of Palaeolithic 

 Implements. That much good work has been done, this book, 

 with its records of 6982 plants and animals, clearly shows. It must 

 be invaluable to students of the natural history of the area with 

 which it deals, and to workers interested in the distribution of 

 British animals. For the encouragement of the former the meagre 

 lists of several groups, particularly amongst the marine inverte- 

 brates, make clear that much important work still remains to be 

 accomplished. 



THE HOME-LIFE OF A GOLDEN EAGLE. Photographed and 

 described by H. B. Macpherson. With 32 mounted plates. 

 (London : Witherby & Co. Price 55.) 



All who are interested in our native birds will read with interest 

 Mr. H. B. Macpherson's account of the domestic life of a Golden 

 Eagle. The history of the young bird is given until the point when 

 it leaves the nest and sallies forth on the wing in company with the 

 elder birds. The author, who has noted every detail and depicted 

 most of them, first visited the eyrie on 23rd April, on which date he 

 found two eggs ; these were hatched on 3rd May. From henceforth 

 a careful and most instructive account is given of the habits and 

 movements of the eaglet and its parents. The illustrations (32 in 

 number) which supplement the observations are really a triumph in 

 bird photography, and for excellence and clearness of detail they 

 could not be surpassed. 



Such a record of the home-life of the most romantic of our 

 British birds can only be got at the expense of immense personal 

 labour and fatigue, and naturalists, knowing the wild nature of its 

 Highland home, will fully appreciate the author's heroic efforts and 

 untiring patience, and congratulate him on his marvellous success. 



A word of credit is also due to the publisher, for though the 

 price of this little volume is very modest, yet the general " get-up " 

 leaves nothing to be desired. G. G.-M. 



