158 The It ish Naturalist. April, 



for so long, the author gives very full and valuable information on the 

 birds of Dublin Bay, for 'which we are grateful, and in this connection a 

 warm tribute is paid to the assistance he received from the late Mr. K 

 Williams. Regarding more northern information, there is internal evi- 

 dence that Dr. Patten has overlooked the account of the birds of Antrim 

 and Down, as given in the Guide published by the Belfast Naturalists' 

 Field Club for the 1902 meeting of the British Association. For instance, 

 no mention is made of the Shoveller breeding in Co. Down (p. 98) ; the 

 statement at foot of p. 272, giving 1899 as the date of the most recent 

 capture of a Great Snipe is not correct (vide B. N. F. C. Guide, p. 163), 

 and there is no record of the Dotterel in Co. Antrim, as stated on p. 211. 

 These small errors onl} T show how extremely difficult it is for an author 

 of such a large book as that under notice to avoid all pit-falls, and 

 they do not detract from the value of this magnificent piece of work. 

 Dr. Patten has laid British ornithologists under a debt of gratitude, while 

 we in Ireland are especially grateful for the many new facts brought to 

 light as to the habits of our water-birds. The book must of necessity be 

 on the shelves of everyone calling himself an ornithologist, and we wish 

 it the wide circulation it so richly deserves. 



Robert Patterson. 



NOTES. 



BOTANY. 



Central Committee for the Survey and Study of British Vegetation. 



The Committee met in Manchester on November 24 aud 25, sitting for 

 seven hours 011 the first day and five hours on the second. The Chair- 

 man of the Committee, A. G. Tansley, M.A. (London University), pre- 

 sided ; also present — W. B. Crump, O. V. Darbishire, Ph.D. (Manchester 

 University), F.J. Lewis, F.L-S. (Liverpool University), C. E. Moss, M.Sc. 

 (Manchester University), Prof. F. W. Oliver, D.Sc, F.R.S. (London Uni- 

 versity), R. LI. Praeger, B.E., W. G. Smith, B.Sc, Ph.D. (Leeds University), 

 J. W. Woodhead ( Halifax Technical College). The general business 

 transacted included the following: — Minutes; Report on Derbyshire 

 excursion held in August ; the question of the publication by Govern- 

 ment of vegetation maps; report of the colour scheme sub-committee, 

 and adoption of a standard colour-scheme for vegetation maps ; appli- 

 cation for advice regarding subdivision of cultivated laud in Gloucester; 

 the collection of botanical photographs which is being formed in con- 

 junction with the British Association Botanical Photographs Committee. 

 In the consideration of the last item the Committee was aided by the 

 presence of Prof. F. E. Weiss, D.Sc. (Manchester University), secretary 

 of the said B. A. Committee. Subsequently the following communica- 

 tions, most of which were illustrated by maps and lantern slides, were 



