8 The Irish Naturalist. January, 



Another point ascertained, as was pointed out by Mr. Eagle- 

 Clarke in 1896, is that the direction of the wind does not 

 apparently affect migration, though its force does so. 



At page xxv. an extensive table relates to forty-two species, 

 including thirty-one Passcrcs, and gives in each case the dates 

 of the arrival of the majority, of their departure or second 

 immigration, statistics of specimens received, whether longer 

 or shorter-winged, the earliest dates in spring and in autumn 

 when they were killed, and the northernmost and southernmost 

 stations where they occurred at each season of passage. This 

 valuable table is based exclusively on specimens, and is quite 

 original. 



The articles on the several species richly repay separate 

 study ; but reference to them would have been facilitated if a 

 short paragraph in distinct type had been placed at the head 

 of each, stating as briefly as possible the range and season of 

 the bird's migration, and any other characteristic facts. 



But the chief drawback to the work seems to be the order 

 of classification, which is not that now generally adopted 

 since Mr. Sclater described it in the Ibis, 1880, and since it 

 was embodied in the Ibis List, 1883. The 4th edition of 

 Yarrell in 1871, commenced, as was then usual, with the birds 

 of prey, which made it impossible to adopt the modern classi- 

 fication through the later volumes. This inconsistent and 

 piecemeal arrangement, resulting from a period of transition, 

 was adopted in the earlier migration reports, and has been 

 continued. This makes it difficult for anyone familiar with 

 the more natural order now recognised, to find a species 

 without the help of the Index ; besides which it tends to per- 

 petuate exploded ideas as to the affinities of birds ; shrikes, 

 for example, being placed next birds of prey. 



Over 600 pages, or more than two-thirds of the volume, are 

 occupied by light-keepers' observations for ten years ending 

 1897, and extracted from their schedules. These notices are 

 arranged under the head of each species, or of each name, such 

 as "Sand-Larks," when several species are comprised. And 

 here a tribute is richly due to those by whose patient and 

 gratuitous labours so vast a store of information has been 

 collected. Though not trained in ornithology, their atcention 

 to bird-migration all the year round has improved their 

 observation and knowledge and led to most interesting results. 



