128 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Finally, the text of all Orders issued since 1880, under which close- 

 times have been varied or extended, or new birds brought within 

 the provisions of the Acts, is given in extenso ; and more useful 

 still is an index, which shows under the heading of each bird the 

 state of the law in any part of the kingdom regarding it. The 

 handbook has been compiled with great care, and though the index 

 will inevitably require revision from time to time, if it is to keep 

 pace with the state of the law as new Orders are constantly issued, 

 it should prove a valuable work of reference. W. B. 



A SKETCH OF THE NATURAL HISTORY (VERTEBRATES) OF THE 

 BRITISH ISLANDS. By F. G. Aflalo, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. With illus- 

 trations. (Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1898.) 



It is very questionable, we think, whether it is possible to com- 

 prise in one small volume an account of all the British Vertebrates 

 about 700 in number. Mr. Aflalo has accomplished the task, 

 in a fashion, in the book under consideration, but we cannot con- 

 gratulate him on the result. Such a work, to be of real use, should 

 be based upon some definite method of treatment, by which all the 

 species would receive equal consideration ; an accurate yet concise 

 description of each species, a sketch of its distribution, and an 

 outline of its life-history should be given. This book fails to fulfil 

 these cardinal requirements, inasmuch as some species are rather 

 fully dealt with, others inadequately treated ; the descriptions of species 

 are not, as a rule, good, and are sometimes ridiculous or inaccurate, 

 as in the case of the Chaffinch and Sanderling ; and the information 

 as to distribution is faulty, as, for instance, when we are told that the 

 Mountain Hare is " not uncommon in Yorkshire and Cheshire." 



Although this book is disappointing, we cannot conclude this 

 notice without some reference to Mr. Lodge's beautiful illustrations, 

 which are both numerous and acceptable. 



WE have received from Mr. J. W. Tutt, F.E.S., a separate copy 

 of his Presidential Address delivered before the members of the 

 City of London Entomological and Natural History Society in 

 December last. It bears the title "Some Considerations on the 

 Nature and Origin of Species," and in it are discussed with much 

 ability and clearness such subjects as hybridity, the origin of varieties 

 and species, variation in genital organs, isolation, the effects of food 

 and climate, sexual selection and the utility of specific characters. 

 As might be expected, these branches of the subject are almost 

 entirely treated of in their relation to Lepidoptera, but they are of 

 interest and importance to others than specialists. The address is 

 prefaced by a short review of the results of entomological work 

 during the year, and here the author laments the stagnation of 

 entomology in Scotland. This may be true as regards Lepidoptera, 

 but as regards some other orders of insects we venture to assert that 

 they are receiving a fair amount of attention. 



