BOOK NOTICES 191 



species or subspecies. Throughout the text, too, figures are freely 

 given of the bills of the allied forms in order to show their 

 peculiarities, and as an aid to their identity. 



The work contains two Supplements : one on the Eggs of Geese 

 by G. F. Gobel, and another giving an account of S. A. Buturlin's 

 ornithological experiences in Kolguev. 



Enough has been said to indicate that the book is replete with 

 varied and valuable information relating to a singularly attractive 

 group of birds. It contributes much to our previous knowledge 

 regarding their histories from all standpoints ; and is indispensable 

 to all who are interested in the subject. 



WILD BIRDS AT HOME. Sixty photographs from life by 

 Charles Kirk, of British Birds and their Nests. Glasgow : Gowans 

 and Co., Ltd. ; London : Brimley, Johnson and Ince, Ltd. 



This is a neat little book containing sixty pictures, all of which 

 are of great excellence and interest and beautifully reproduced ; 

 indeed, we have seen few, if any, better in either respect. The 

 price is 6d., or in cloth is., and we are not surprised to learn that it 

 has had a phenomenal sale, several editions having been exhausted 

 during the few weeks it has been before the public. 



We hope that this well-merited success will induce Mr. Kirk 

 and the publishers to give us a further series of these delightful 

 peeps into the life of Wild Birds at Home. A number of the 

 scenes in the present series are laid at Ailsa Craig. 



THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. By G. Claridge 

 Druce, M.A., E.L.S. 



In this Memoir of 238 pages, recently issued as No. xii. of 

 " Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh," Mr. Druce 

 has conferred a benefit on lovers of the flora of Scotland, and has 

 brought within easy compass the material from which to gain a 

 truer appreciation of the great additions made by G. Don to what 

 was previously known of that flora, and at how great personal labour 

 and sacrifices he carried on his investigations. The subject is one 

 that has been investigated by Mr. Druce for a number of years, and 

 he has previously criticised the attitude to Don's discoveries taken 

 up by Prof. Walker-Arnott, and has also given a short account of 

 Don in his Presidential Address in 1902 to the Pharmaceutical 

 Conference in Dundee, on the progress of botanical investigation 

 in Scotland. In this new work we have a Memoir of his life 

 and surroundings as far as it is possible to build one up from the 

 rather fragmentary materials in existence. Then follow several 

 appendices : 



A. Dofi's "Reputed Discoveries " analysed, with the result that 

 eight are shown to have been rediscovered in Scotland, under 

 conditions that render Don's accuracy at least very probable ; nine 



