64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



A DICTIONARY OF BIRD NOTES. To which is appended a 

 Glossary of Popular, Local, and Old-fashioned Synonyms of British 

 Birds. By Charles Louis Hett. (Jackson's Brigg, 1898.) 



This " Dictionary of Bird Notes " is a useful compilation. It is 

 arranged under both the Notes and the Birds, and appears to have 

 been prepared with some care. Unfortunately, however, a burlesque- 

 ness pervades the book, owing to an attempt having been made to 

 render the notes and songs of a number of species by English words. 

 Thus the " strange and weird note " of the Black-throated Diver is 

 rendered by " Drink drink drink, the lake is nearly dried up." 

 Fancy any one looking for a bird's note under "drink"! Such 

 renderings as these are sheer nonsense, and they mar an otherwise 

 useful and neatly got-up little book. 



W. Wesley and Son, London, have just issued a " Catalogue of 

 Natural History and Scientific Books " which gives a description and 

 classified list of 1500 works and pamphlets on the Natural History 

 of Great Britain and Ireland. The arrangement under the names of 

 the English Counties, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland will be found 

 of interest to collectors of local faunal works. 



