VOLUME X. 



THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 1 



BY R. J. USSHKR. 



In August last a book appeared for which ornithologists have 

 been waiting for years, and like many things long expected, it 

 has finally taken by surprise those who know of the enormous 

 accumulations of facts, that had to be digested, contained in 

 the Irish lightkeepers' reports of eighteen years. The last 

 annual report, for 1897, has only been printed within the 

 present year, yet the entire series has been analysed with 

 untiring research and power of appreciating the varying 

 facts of the several birds' migrations. Mr. Barrington states 

 that he has availed himself of the assistance of Mrs. Barrington 

 (who has taken an active interest in the work), and of Mr. 

 Moffat, whose acute mind and painstaking help have largely 

 contributed to its success ; while the author's own grasp 

 of the subject has enabled him to achieve what is certainly 

 a new departure in the study of migration. 



The special merit of this work is that its careful state- 

 ments rest on data which are presented to the reader for 

 verification. What is merely inferred is always distinguished 

 from what is proved, and the reasons in each case are given ; 

 while the cautious estimate of the evidence is frequently 

 indicated by such remarks as, " It is true in the main," " It 

 has been demonstrated," or "There seems some reason to 

 think." 



1 The Migration of Birds as observed at Irish Lighthouses 

 and Lightships, including the Original Reports from 1S88-97, now 



published for the first time, and an Analysis of these and the previously 

 published Reports from 1881-87 ; together with an Appendix giving the 

 measurements of about 1,600 wings. By Richard M. Barrington* 

 Pp. 285 (Analysis), and 660 (Reports). London : R. H. Porter ; Dublin : 

 Edward Ponsonby, 1900. Price, 2$s. 



