72 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



under consideration, wherein is given an excellent and concise 

 account of the Tay Valley Physical, Geological, Zoological, and 

 Botanical written by specialists associated with the club. 



Part III. of the second volume of the Transactions of this 

 Society, which has just reached us, also contains contributions of 

 interest and value. 



We congratulate the Society on its activity and usefulness, and 

 we trust that other Scottish Societies having similar aims may be 

 induced to follow its most excellent example. 



A GUIDE TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF LOCH LOMOND AND 

 NEIGHBOURHOOD : Mammals and Birds, by James Lumsden ; Rep- 

 tiles and Fishes, by Alfred Brown. (Glasgow : David Bryce and 

 Son, 1895.) 



This little work is intended by the authors as a guide to the 

 Natural History of Loch Lomond and the surrounding district, the 

 information being conveyed in as short and concise a manner as 

 possible the lists of Mammals and Birds by Mr. James Lumsden, 

 Reptiles and Fishes by Mr. Alfred Brown. Amongst the Mammals, 

 the Wild Cat, Pine Marten, and Polecat may be considered extinct ; 

 and the Mountain Hare, Rabbit, and Squirrel, all formerly unknown, 

 are now abundant. The list of Birds, as might be expected from 

 the very varied character of the scenery, water, mountain, moor, 

 and woodland, is larger. The loch, 2 2 miles long and 5 broad, with 

 an area of 21,000 acres, in the winter swarms with various wild-fowl ; 

 and many species of Waders, Gulls, and Terns, generally only found 

 on the sea-coast, also abounding. All kinds of Hawks, owing to the 

 continued persecution of gamekeepers, are becoming scarcer; so like- 

 wise Magpies, Hooded and Carrion Crows the two latter interbreed- 

 ing. Black Game have decreased, the probable cause, as the author 

 suggests, being the hill-draining, which has changed the character of 

 the undergrowth. The Common Redstart has increased very much 

 in the last ten years. No Golden Eagles nest now near Loch 

 Lomond, and the Kite, common fifty to seventy years since, has 

 vanished. 



Mr. Brown enumerates twenty species of fish belonging to Loch 

 Lomond waters. These comprise several coarse sorts, and almost all 

 the admitted species of the true Salmonidje found in Britain. 



This little volume is neatly got up and well printed, it has an 

 excellent index, and will be found a very useful and necessary hand- 

 book for naturalists visiting the district. There are two illustrations 

 representing a hybrid, the only one recorded anywhere, between the 

 Capercaillie and Pheasant. J. C. 



