62 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



BOOK NOTICES. 



OOTHECA WOLLEYANA : AN ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF THE 



COLLECTION OF BIRDS' EGGS FORMED BY THE LATE JOHN WOLLEY, 

 JUN., M.A., F.Z.S. Edited from the original notes by Alfred Newton, 

 Part ii., Picarise-Passeres. (London: R. H. Porter, 1902.) 



It is quite needless to remark that the appearance of the Second 

 Part of this valuable Catalogue will be most heartily welcomed by 

 ornithologists. 



Although written long ago, the extensive series of field-notes on 

 the numerous species treated of retain a freshness that will probably 

 never depart from them. Wolley was no ordinary man, as is well 

 known to all who are interested in birds, and, although a pioneer, 

 his methods in field-work and his originality of description have 

 never been equalled, and hence they possess a charm, an interest, 

 and a value which are peculiarly their own. 



The part under consideration deals with certain species around 

 whose nesting habits, even to this day, few naturalists have any 

 practical experience, and affords for the first time the complete details 

 connected with some of those remarkable discoveries in Oology with 

 which Wolley's name will always be associated, among others those 

 relating to the Waxwing, Siberian Jay, and Red-throated Pipit \ while 

 much early, and hence historically valuable, information is given 

 concerning the nidification of the Redwing, Brambling, Pine Gros- 

 beak, etc. Not only, however, have we afforded the results of Wolley's 

 labours, but also the continuation by Prof. Newton of the work com- 

 menced by Wolley in Lapland. The result is that the collection 

 now includes specimens which had baffled Wolley's efforts to obtain, 

 and comprises the eggs of every species of bird known to breed 

 in that country. In addition, we have the experiences on the nidifica- 

 tion of certain species from the pens of Sir Edward Newton, Mr. 

 Osbert Salvin, and other well-known ornithologists. Nor must we 

 overlook the numerous contributions, chiefly critical observations and 

 historical notes, by the Editor. These, like all Prof. Newton's 

 writings, exhibit an amount of ornithological erudition which is not 

 to be found elsewhere. 



An appreciative memoir by the same writer, giving an account 

 of the life and work of Wolley, accompanied by a portrait, forms a 

 welcome preface to the volume. 



The illustrations consist of four beautiful coloured plates, giving 

 numerous figures of the eggs of the more interesting species treated 

 of, and three tinted plates of Lapland, Icelandic, and Spitsbergen 

 scenery. 



In conclusion, we can only express the pleasure it afforded us to 

 learn from the last words of the preface that the preparation of the 

 remaining portion of this unique Catalogue has been commenced. 



