128 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



readers, are taken direct from the eggs themselves by the three- 

 colour process, are marvellously good, and the author is much to 

 be congratulated on the success that he has achieved, and on the 

 marked ])rogress he has made towards the completion of this 

 most important work. 



We welcome the appearance of part iii. of the Rev. Mr. 

 [ourdain's book on the same subject. The great merit of this 

 work lies in the excellence and comprehensive nature of its text, 

 upon which, it is manifest, great care has been bestowed. This 

 work may be regarded as a companion to Dr. Hartert's " Vogel der 

 paliiarktischen Fauna," since it treats of all the subspecies recog- 

 nised by that author as inhabiting Europe, and thus it occupies a 

 place entirely its own among the egg-books in the English language. 

 The figures of the eggs are, on the whole, very satisfactory. 



The Moths of the British Isles. Second Series. By 

 Richard South, F.G.S. (London: F. Warne and Company, 1908.) 

 Price 7s. 6d. net. 



This is the concludinL,^ portion of one of the most attractive 

 and handy books on " British Moths " ever published. The author's 

 name is in itself an ample guarantee of accuracy and judicious 

 treatment, while the illustrations are, on the w^hole, of quite excep- 

 tional merit. Since the latter are, in the case of the adult insects, 

 produced by the photographic three-colour process, it follows that 

 the markings and shape of the wings are absolutely true to nature, 

 while the colours are usually equally faithful. Some of the greens 

 are, however, as in most cases where the three-colour process is 

 used, not bright enough, or of a wrong shade. The text is admirably 

 arranged, and gives just sufficient information for ordinary purposes ; 

 but the English names used on the plates would be better replaced 

 by Latin ones, as the latter are nowadays even better known, and 

 certainly of more value than the curious combinations of adjective 

 and noun which occasion such names as Grey Shoulder - knot. 

 Dingy Shears, or Ringed Carpet. 



The handy size of this beautiful little book renders it possible for 

 the collector to take it away with him to the country without incon- 

 venience along with the companion volumes on the remainder of 

 the Macro-Lepidoptera. Armed with the three he will have at hand 

 a reliable, and at the same time a most readable and enjoyable, 

 guide to the identification and life-history of his captures. 



