126 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



" Dictionary " have contributed largely to our knowledge of ornith- 

 ology generally, and this has led him to treat " Birds " from the 

 standpoint of the Systematist, devoting only a few pages perhaps 

 some may consider too few to structure and general introductory 

 matter. 



There can be no doubt that such a book was a desideratum. 

 Here we have, compressed into a single handy volume, a really honest 

 attempt to give, so far as is possible, an adequate account of each 

 family of birds, treating all alike. The scrupulous and painstaking 

 care bestowed upon this volume has resulted in its affording a 

 marvellous amount of information of a varied nature, and in the 

 highest standard of accuracy being maintained. Thus has the 

 attempt alluded to been converted into a success. 



The secret of the excellence attained by Mr. Evans lies in the 

 fact that his book took years to prepare, and was not dashed off in 

 a few weeks, as, alas ! too many books are nowadays. 



We have only one regret to express in connection with the book, 

 namely, that our author has not thought well to recognise the very 

 generally accepted view that the Corvida? are the most specialised 

 family of the Passeriformes, and should be placed at the head of that 

 order, and hence of the class Birds. The Crows are here deposed 

 in favour of the Finches. The great objection to this departure 

 from the views of the majority is that it leads to a state of unrest, 

 which it is most desirable should be avoided ; unless, indeed, there 

 are important and valid reasons for such departure, which, in this 

 case, have certainly not been demonstrated. 1 



The book abounds in excellent original illustrations from the 

 pencil of Mr. Lodge, and a few others which are old friends, while 

 a useful map forms a frontispiece. 



We have no doubt that Mr. Evans's book will meet with the high 

 appreciation it so thoroughly deserves. 



THE PENYCUIK EXPERIMENTS. By J. C. Ewart, M.D., F.R.S. 

 (London: Adam and Charles Black, 1899.) 



This attractively got-up volume is mainly a reissue in book 

 form of three papers already published in the " Veterinarian " and the 

 "Zoologist"; but in addition we find an introduction of nearly a 

 hundred pages, in which the author sets forth, in a lucid and 

 interesting fashion, the general principles of breeding, and the 

 problems which constantly present themselves for both theoretical 

 and practical solution. After a short sketch of the characters of 

 interest possessed by the nine zebra hybrids bred by the Professor 

 (described more fully in a later portion of the book), a discussion 

 is entered upon as to the meaning of the various principles known 

 to the student of heredity as reversion, prepotency, telegony, 

 saturation, and other subjects. Here we find reference to numer- 

 ous experiments with pigeons, dogs, and rabbits, conducted by 



