126 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



which have their summer quarters in northern and central Europe, 

 while others traverse it on their passage northward in spring, and 

 southward in autumn. 



A few words are especially necessary concerning the get-up of 

 the book. In this respect the volumes leave nothing to be 

 desired, indeed they are sumptuous, being finely printed, elegantly 

 bound in half morocco, and illustrated by fifteen hand-coloured 

 plates, than which we have never seen better, two photogravures, 

 two black-and-white reproductions of photographs, and two maps. 

 Mr. Whitaker has indeed not only given us a work of great merit, 

 and a valuable contribution to ornithological literature, but also one 

 of great artistic excellence. 



THE BIRDS OF THE ISLE OF MAN. By P. G. Ralfe. Edinburgh : 

 David Douglas, 1905. Price :8s. net. 



Situated in the middle waters of the northern section of the Irish 

 Sea and almost equidistant from England, Scotland, Ireland, and 

 Wales, the Isle of Man occupies a singularly interesting geographical 

 position from the faunist's point of view, and this, together with its 

 limited area (some 230 square miles) renders it an ideal spot for 

 the activities of the naturalist investigator. The island, too, has 

 a varied surface, and thus affords a considerable choice of bird- 

 haunts ; while last, but far from least, it is known to lie in the 

 course of important and varied streams of bird-migration. 



The strong point in Mr. Ralfe's volume is to be found in his 

 historical and other bibliographical researches, and in these respects, 

 and in its statistical and descriptive aspects, the book is decidedly an 

 excellent one. On the other hand, however, his personal knowledge 

 of Manx ornithology is unfortunately not masterly. He appears 

 to know nothing regarding the important subject of migration as 

 observed in the island, which is most disappointing. Such inquiries 

 into this interesting phenomenon as that lately carried on under 

 the auspices of the British Association can only result in the laying 

 down of broad lines, and we must look to competent local orni- 

 thologists to fill in the various details, which can be known to them 

 alone. Thus it is greatly to be regretted that Mr. Ralfe is unable 

 to contribute, even in a small degree, towards this furtherance of 

 our knowledge from so favourably situated an Island as that of 

 Man. This lack of personal experience, too, is manifest in the 

 accounts of several species. Regarding the Twite, for instance, 

 our author seems to know nothing, and he merely quotes the few 

 words of Mr. Kermode without comment, and thus he leaves us some- 

 what uncertain as to the present status of this bird as a Manx species. 



The Avifauna is interesting rather than rich. It comprises 183 

 species, of which 93 are native or breeding birds. As the historian 

 of these, Mr. Ralfe deserves our congratulations on the manner in 

 which he has accomplished his self-imposed task. The resultant 



