r9o8. Reviews. 39 



Sauuders' figures, but a few are slightly different, while the following are 

 evidently typographical errors -length of Golden Eagle, 23 ins. ; length 

 of Macqueen's Bustard, 38 ins. ; of Avocet, 10 ins ; of Purple Sandpiper 

 8*57 ins. ; of Great Black-backed Gull, 23 ins. 



We doubt the statement (p. 40) that the Nightingale sometimes ex- 

 ceeds in size the Greater Nightingale, or " Sprosser," while the assertion 

 that the Nightingale is "only known to the south-east of a line froni 

 the Humber to the Severn," is quite wrong, according to the latest infor- 

 mation. (See " Birds of Yorkshire," p. 50). 



We must confess to a feeling of disappointment that the book does not 

 give more information in regard to the Anatidse, of which group the 

 author keeps so man}' species in confinement, and in which he has been 

 so successful in hybridisation. A full detailed description of the down 

 lining the nests of the various species would have been most valuable. 

 On page 361, the remarkable statement is made that in winter the bill 

 and legs of the Black-headed Gull are white ! And in describing the 

 summer plumage of the same bird, the words " Bill and legs much darker 

 than in summer" only makes more confusion in the mind of the young 

 student On the other hand, we have nothing but praise for the descrip- 

 tion of the nesting place of the Kentish Plover on p. 301. "... and it 

 will never be met with unless a special journej' is made to that lonely 

 stretch of shore which is its only home in these Islands." Bgg-dealers 

 will not make much out of that description ! 



When we come to examine the book from the stand-point of the Irish 

 ornithologist, we regret to find that the references to our island are often 

 misleading, and sometimes quite erroneous. A closer perusal of Ussher's 

 " Birds of Ireland," and the pages of this Journal since the publication of 

 that work, would have modified many of Mr. Bonhote's statements, and 

 with such information easily available, English ornithologists have no 

 excuse for misleading their readers regarding Irish bird-life. For in- 

 stance, one would think the Siskin did not breed here; the Brambling 

 " has only occurred at very irregular intervals" ; the Crossbill " has 

 nested at irregular intervals" ; one would infer that the Magpie was 

 local and scarce here ; the nesting colonies of Gannets '• are pretty well 

 distributed round our coasts, especially in Scotland and Ireland'''' ; the oc- 

 currence of the Pink-footed Goose in Ireland ■' is not yet authenticated" ; 

 the Gadwall is not so rare here as one would suppose ; the breeding of 

 the Scoter in Ireland is not mentioned ; of colonies of the Sandwich 

 Tern "Ireland can only boast of one, in the North" ; the Great Crested 

 Grebe " nests in several localities" ; while the only numbers of Irish 

 occurrences given (Red-necked Grebe) are w'rong ! These instances are 

 picked out at random and could be added to, but such statements should 

 not have been allowed to pass. We hope ere a second edition is called 

 for more attention will be given to the Irish records. The book is well 

 printed and bound, the pages have wide margins, and, so far as English 

 information is concerned, it leaves little to be desired. Its value lies in its 

 original descriptions of bird-life and habits, and for these we cordially 



welcome it. 



R. P. 



