74 



HEWITSON'S " BRITISH OOLOGY." 



Op the numerous contributions to ornithology with which the 

 press teems, there are few illustrated works of greater interest to 

 the naturalist than the admirable series of representations of British 

 eggs now in progress of publication by Mr. Hewitson. Two vo- 

 lumes have been completed, in which the eggs of one hundred and 

 forty-two species, and in all two hundred and twenty-two speci- 

 mens, have been figured, for the most part, with the utmost accu- 

 racy ; so that the possessor of these volumes may be said to enjoy 

 the advantages of a valuable cabinet, such as few could ever hope 

 to obtain, and none without a considerable sacrifice of time and 

 money. There are few naturalists but can well appreciate the 

 usefulness of a work of this description, were it only for the impor- 

 tant assistance afforded in grouping birds according to their true 

 affinities, which, in general, are beautifully indicated in their eggs. 

 Mr. Hewitson's work furnishes likewise a fund of curious 

 information relative to the nidification and habits of birds dur- 

 ing the breeding season. We only regret that, in so many instan- 

 ces, a whole plate has been devoted to a single egg, while the great 

 variations of appearance incident to those of many species are by no 

 means illustrated to the extent we think desirable. In proceeding 

 to give a critical analysis on the whole series, it is necessary to pre- 

 mise that the work originally appeared in periodic numbers, which 

 are still continued, the only method in which an undertaking of 

 this sort could be successfully prosecuted ; but as the volumes 

 before us are bound up according to Selby's arrangement — 

 which is so far advantageous as it brings the different mem- 

 bers of a genus together — it will be more convenient to notice them 

 in this order than in the irregular manner in which they were ne- 

 cessarily published. 



Our first volume, then, opens with a beautiful figure of the egg of 

 the Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysea (Falco clirys'detos, of Linneus). 

 This is accompanied with a brief description of its nidification, making 

 the bird out, however, a little too rare, if we may judge from Mr. 

 Selby's account of the birds of Sutherlandshire.* " In the moun- 

 tainous districts/' says Mr. Selby, " this species is still tolerably 

 abundant, although every device is put in practice to capture or de- 

 stroy them by the appointed fox-hunters and shepherds, the premi- 



• Vide Jameson's Philosophical Journals for January and April last. 



