128 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



arc tic of which Europe, along with Northern Africa, forms the 

 Western moiety, and Northern and Central Asia the Eastern and 

 somewhat greater portion. This adds a comprehensiveness to the 

 work which is in itself an item of considerable value ; the more so 

 because none other is devoted to the avifauna of what is naturally 

 to us the premier zoological region of the globe. It also makes the 

 book specially useful to the student of geographical distribution ; 

 while to those who are interested in faunal work it affords descrip- 

 tions of practically all the species which are likely to occur anywhere 

 within the European area. 



It is fortunate that the book is the production of one most fitted 

 for the task, namely, the author of the " Birds of Europe," a great 

 work in eight quarto volumes, and one of the most useful ever written 

 in the interests of ornithology. 



As to the treatment of the subject, it is really wonderful what an 

 amount of information Mr. Dresser has been able to give regarding 

 each of the numerous species. Thus, in the part before us, no less than 

 709 species are dealt with in less than 500 pages : and yet we have 

 for each of them (i) necessary synonomy and references to literature; 

 (2) the name of the species in the language of each of the countries 

 of Europe in which it occurs; (3) a concise description of the plumage 

 at various seasons and ages ; (4) a sketch of its geographical distri- 

 bution ; and (5) a short account of habits, food, nature of haunts, 

 nesting sites, description of eggs, etc. 



The work is to consist of two parts part two is now in the 

 press and will form a volume of some 1000 pages, though not at 

 all a bulky one. It will afford the information indicated concerning 

 some 1400 species, and contain a map of the Palsearctic Region 

 and a frontispiece reproducing a drawing by the late Joseph Wolf. 

 The price per part is only 125. 6d., or 255. for the complete work. 



We congratulate Mr. Dresser on the completion of this latest 

 and most useful piece of work, and cordially recommend it to all 

 those who are interested in birds, British or European, or in the 

 subject generally. 



