REVIEWS 63 



REVIEWS. 



THE BIRDS OF DERBYSHIRE. By F. B. Whitlock. Annotated, 

 with numerous additions, by A. S. Hutchinson. (London : Bemross 

 and Sons, 1893.) 



Mr. Whitlock's book treats of a comparatively small district, not 

 exceeding 1030 square miles, yet considering the limited area pos- 

 sessing a more diversified surface than any other English county : 

 from fruitful plain to high barren moorlands over 2000 feet above the 

 sea level ; river valleys also like the Denvent and Trent. These two, 

 but especially the latter, as lines of migration followed in the spring 

 and autumn, have added many species both of shore and sea-bird 

 to the county list, and undoubtedly have been the main factor in 

 enriching the avifauna in number of species. 



The total of various birds occurring, or reputed to occur in 

 Derbyshire, is 241, which includes 84 residents, 72 migrants, and 

 the unusually large number of 85 casual visitors. Of the migrants, 

 however, the pied-flycatcher, blue-headed wagtail, and stone curlew 

 must be considered to hold a very doubtful place in the list. 



No less than 8 terns, 7 gulls, and 3 skuas are recognised 

 as occurring, and the list of waders and shore-birds is remarkable 

 for so inland a county. It is pleasant to learn that the red-shank is 

 now thoroughly established as a breeding species in the Trent valley, 

 and this holds good, as we can certify, in the neighbouring county 

 of Nottinghamshire. 



The volume contains a good map of the county, and the illustra- 

 tions of Derbyshire scenery add much to the interest of the work. 

 Mr. Whitlock has long been recognised as an accurate and pains- 

 taking observer, and his book is full of interesting local information 

 in connection with the haunts and habits of birds, the result of years 

 of careful research and inquiry by himself and his colleague Mr. A. 

 S. Hutchinson. 



BRITISH FUNGUS FLORA. By George Massee. Vols. II. and III. 

 (George Bell and Sons.) 



In this Journal (vol. ii. p. 62) we have already noticed, with the 

 commendation it deserves, the first volume of the " British Fungus 

 Flora." In the later volumes, issued in 1893, the same plan is adhered 

 to as in Vol. I., in respect to the descriptions and illustrations. 

 Vol. II. is devoted to a portion of the Agaricini, including 

 Ochrosporce, Rhodosporce, and Leucosporce, down to Laccaria. Of 

 Vol II. more than half is occupied with the remaining Leucosporce. 

 The remainder of the volume contains the Hyphomycetes : a group 

 that may be looked on as composed almost entirely of forms or stages 

 of reproduction of species that belong chiefly to the Ascomycetes, 

 though in our present lack of information it is not possible in more 

 than a small proportion of cases to refer these forms with certainty 



