2S0 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



REVIEWS. 



A Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides. By 



J. A. Harvie-Brown and Thomas E. Buckley : (Edinburgh, David 

 Douglas, 1892). This is the fifth volume of the fine series at present 

 being issued by Mr. David Douglas in connection with the fauna of 

 Scotland. 



The geographical position of the special faunal-area dealt with by 

 the authors may be briefly defined as the greater part of the political 

 division or county of Argyll and some portion of Inverness, with the 

 islands adjacent which pertain to the two counties, embracing Canna, 

 Rum, and Muck to the north and Jura and Islay to the south, 

 altogether an area of 838 square miles. 



From page 2 2 to page 84 of the introductory topographical sketch 

 we have a clear and most charming description of the physical 

 features of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides ; this is especially interest- 

 ing as the authors have avoided the beaten tracks of the guide- 

 books, steamers, and tourists, and depicted the wilder glens and 

 more remote fastnesses, and the lone and rarely visited islets of the 

 sea, 



" Where no human road yet travels, 

 Never tourist's foot hath come ; " 



spots doubly attractive from their exquisite scenery and remoteness 

 from the haunts of men. 



The chapter dealing with the mammals contains much that is 

 quite new in connection with the indigenous feras of the district. 

 The wild cat is totally absent from the Isles, and, although not 

 extinct on the mainland, has receded to the least accessible districts. 

 The marten is local and becoming very scarce, so also the foumart. 

 The otter is still abundant on the mainland and isles ; and the badger 

 on the former only, but less so than in the past. Much interest 

 attaches to the notice of the common, harp, and grey seals, and it 

 is pleasant to learn that the latter are for the most part protected, as 

 far as is possible, from disturbance in the few localities where it is 

 still to be found. 



Of the 368 species included in the avi-fauna of Great Britain, 

 210 are at present ascertained to be resident or occasional visitors 

 to Argyll and the Isles. In recent years the extension of woods 

 and plantations has favoured the increase of some species, as 

 the resident Turdidce, redstart, which latter has increased vastly in 

 recent years, the spotted fly-catcher, wood-wren, and grasshopper- 

 warbler. So also the starling and jackdaw, and in some instances 

 no doubt the latter aggressive species is answerable for the diminu- 

 tion of the old-fashioned chough. The rook also is increasing, and 



