BOOK NOTICES 61 



BOOK NOTICES. 



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A HISTORY OF BRITISH MAMMALS. By Gerald E. H. Barrett- 

 Hamilton, B.A., M.R.I.A., F.Z.S. With twenty-seven full-page 

 plates in colour, fifty-four in black and white, and upwards of two 

 hundred and fifty smaller illustrations, drawn by Edward A. Wilson, 

 B.A., M.B. London : Gurney and Jackson, 1910. 



By those who are interested in our British mammals, the name 

 of Mr. Barrett - Hamilton has been long regarded, through his 

 numerous and valuable contributions to their study, as the leading 

 authority on their histories. Fortunately he has been induced to 

 write a book giving us the benefit of his great knowledge. We have 

 now the pleasure of noticing the two parts already issued, and these, 

 from their many and outstanding excellences, will assuredly secure for 

 the work the highest place in the estimation of readers, both scientific 

 and general. The author's treatment of his subject is, as we should 

 expect, masterly. Each of the great Orders, under which the various 

 families naturally belong in the modern scheme of classification, are 

 very fully discussed from all standpoints. Then the smaller 

 groups of families and genera, the members of which are more nearly 

 related, are likewise treated of; and the characters of the latter, both 

 morphological and anatomical, are fully described. Then follow the 

 all-important species. Here we have sections devoted to synonymy ; 

 local names ; distribution, both at home and abroad ; distribution 

 in time ; period of gestation ; number of young ; breeding season ; 

 description (fur, colour, seasonal changes, skull, teeth, etc.); indi- 

 vidual and geographical variation ; dimensions ; weight ; and dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics all these sections being indicated by the 

 use of heavy type, so that reference can be instantly made to any 

 class of information desired. This we may describe as the scientific 

 side of the histories, and it is followed by a full and readable 

 general account, including habits, life-histories, food, etc. Taking 

 the common Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) as an example, some idea 

 of the thorough and exhaustive manner in which each species is 

 treated will be made manifest when we say that twenty-four pages 

 are allocated to its consideration. All the species are treated of in the 

 same philosophic and scientific manner. The work, too, is abund- 

 antly illustrated by high-class plates, both coloured and plain, and 

 also by numerous useful figures in the text. A word of praise 

 must be bestowed upon the publishers and printers for their 

 contributions towards the excellence of this valuable book the 

 best ever written on the engaging histories of our British Mammals. 

 The work is to form three volumes, and is being issued in monthly 

 parts at 25. 6d. net. 



