REVIEWS 6 1 



REVIEWS. 



AMONG BRITISH BIRDS IN THEIR NESTING HAUNTS : ILLUS- 

 TRATED BY THE CAMERA. By Oswin A. J. Lee. (Edinburgh : 

 David Douglas, 1896.) 



A few months ago we noticed in our pages what may be termed 

 the pioneer work on the application of photography to birds' nests 

 and eggs taken in situ. We now have the pleasure of noticing a 

 much more ambitious and important work devoted to the same 

 subject : one which at once carries this branch of ornithological work 

 to its highest place, both as regards the beauty and size of its plates, 

 and the intention of making it a complete pictorial history of the 

 nests of all the birds that breed in the British Islands, as seen in 

 their natural surroundings. 



The two parts issued each contain ten fine facsimile plates 

 depicting the nesting habits of the Eider Duck (2), Cormorant, 

 Peregrine (2), Long-eared Owl, Sparrow-hawk, Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull (2), Roseate Tern, Coot (2), Waterhen (2), Shoveller, Willow 

 Warbler, Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, and Sheld Duck (2). All of 

 them are most satisfactory and pleasing, and we may at once say 

 that they are as near perfection as it is perhaps possible to make 

 them. Mr. Lee has evidently spent much time and enthusiasm in 

 the procuration of his pictures, many of which must have been pro- 

 cured under great difficulties not to say danger. 



We are not sure that much letterpress is necessary as an adjunct 

 to such a work. Mr. Lee, however, has not only supplied the 

 necessary data relating directly to his plates, but he has also given a 

 considerable amount of general information relating to each species, 

 and has added his own experience concerning them. This section 

 of the work is illustrated by a series of sketches of some merit 

 devoted to the birds and their haunts. 



There are one or two statements in the text to which attention 

 may be drawn. Chief among these is the one that the camera 

 indicates that the Sandwich Tern makes two beats of its pinions in 

 the twentieth part of a second, that is 40 strokes per second, or 

 2400 per minute ! This is a most startling statement, and one that 

 must be received with considerable doubt, since Mr. Lucas estimates 

 the wing vibrations of the Humming Birds a family in which these 

 movements probably reach their maximum at something under 500 

 per minute. Other items worthy of notice, and requiring confirmation, 

 relate to the breeding somewhat commonly too of the Hooded 

 Crow in Peeblesshire, as related in the account of the Long-eared Owl ; 

 and the nesting of the Kittiwake in recent years at St. Abb's Head. 

 Great credit is due to Mr. Douglas for the really excellent 

 manner in which he has accomplished his share of the production. 

 It is admirable in all respects, and leaves nothing to be desired. 



