REVIEWS 265 



A. Harvie-Brown and Mr. Wm. Eagle Clarke for the correction of 

 proofs and revising the synonymy, and their share in bringing the 

 work to a satisfactory issue. 



We cannot better conclude this notice than by quoting the last 

 words of the author on the completion of this his great life-work : 

 " With this my report on the Birds of Heligoland closes. It is not 

 without a certain feeling of sadness that I take my leave of those 

 dear companions of many years, whose voices, manifold and familiar, 

 have come down to me like friendly greetings from the heights above 

 during many a late hour of night spent at my desk over these leaves, 

 whilst over the skylight of the room which serves me at once for 

 museum and for studio their countless hosts were speeding onward 

 towards their distant homes." JOHN CORDEAUX. 



BRITISH BIRDS. By W. H. Hudson, C.M.Z.S. With a chapter 

 on Structure and Classification by Frank E. Beddard, F.R.S. 

 Illustrated. (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1895.) 



This work is intended by the author not as a text-book for the 

 use of the scientific ornithologist, but for general readers seeking 

 information, and more especially for the young. It differs from all 

 other books on British Birds with which we are acquainted, in the 

 fact that it treats of the appearance, language, and life-habits only of 

 such species about 2 1 o in number that reside permanently, or for 

 a portion of each year, within the British Isles ; accidental or irregular 

 visitors being incidentally mentioned but not described. 



Amongst the multiplicity of works on British ornithology there 

 was room for one of this description for, since the appearance of 

 John's "British Birds and their Haunts" in 1862, no book has been 

 issued from the press at a reasonable price and in a condensed form, 

 so well suited as a guide to the study of birds in a state of nature, 

 and at the same time one less weighted and encumbered with 

 technical matter in connection with nomenclature and generic and 

 specific distinctions. The volume commences with a chapter on 

 Structure and Classification by Mr. F. E. Beddard, F.R.S., and then 

 follows a short life-history of each species from the pen of the very 

 capable author. 



A great feature is the many very excellent illustrations by the 

 best-known bird artists. These include eight chromo-lithographs 

 from original coloured drawings by A. Thorburn, eight plates and 

 one hundred figures in black and white from original drawings by G. 

 E. Lodge, and three illustrations from photographs from nature by 

 R. B. Lodge. All these are charming in their way, and add greatly 

 to the beauty, interest, and value of the volume. 



The descriptive portions are nicely written, and there are remark- 

 ably few inaccuracies, and these such as may be readily corrected in 

 a future edition. The Redstart is a common summer visitor to 

 Scotland, being extremely abundant in certain suitable haunts. 



