1902. Pattkn. — List of Birds west of Diiiglc, Co. Kerry. 137 



Before concluding, I wish to convey my best thanks to 

 Rev. W. J. King for much valuable information concerning 

 the habits of the Chough, the Hen Harrier, the Peregrine 

 Falcon, and other birds ; information to be esteemed all the 

 more because it has been derived from his own personal 

 observations in the field. 



To. Dr. C. R. Browne, whom I accompanied during his 

 ethnographical survey over the same district, I am also 

 deeply grateful. From him I learnt several useful hints as to 

 the best methods of exploring the wild, rugged, western part 

 of the Dingle Peninsula. 



University College, Sheffield. 



REVIEW. 



PREHISTORIC DOGS. 



Die praehistorlschcn Hunde iu ihrer Beziehung zu den gegen- 

 wiirtig lebenden Rassen. Von Dr. Th. Studer. Zurich, 1901. 

 (^Abhandl. der Schweizer Pal'doiitol. Geselhchaft, vol. xxviii.) 



Recent and extinct races of Dogs have been carefully studied by Pro- 

 fessor Studer, of Berne, for a considerable number of years. The Museum 

 of Berne contains a large collection of Dog skulls, among which there are 

 no less than 64 prehistoric ones, mostly from the Swiss lake-dwellings 

 {Pfahlbatcten). Particularly interesting are Professor Studer's researches 

 into the origin of the domestic Dog. Whether the modern breeds have 

 descended from one or more of the ancient wild Dogs, is a subject which 

 has engrossed the attention of many a naturalist in bygone times. But 

 never before has such an unrivalled collection of canine remains been 

 at the disposal of a zoologist as that of the celebrated Swiss naturalist 

 to whom we are indebted for the magnificent treatise just issued on the 

 prehistoric Dogs and their relations with those now living. 



The skull must be looked upon as the most characteristic portion of 

 the body, and it is of the greatest importance iu distinguishing the 

 various races from one another. It forms, indeed, the basis of all re- 

 searches upon the origin of the domestic Dog. 



Professor Studer draws attention to the fact that the skull of the Wolf 

 is extremely variable, perhaps more so than that of any other wild mam- 

 mal, and that some of these skulls approach those of domestic Dogs very 

 closely. A Dog's skull, however, can always be distinguished from that 

 of a Wolf by the position and form of the eye cavities. 



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