768 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



further information. It is probably correct not to associate the " Crowtits " 

 with the " Crows " as does Gates, but that is no reason for placing them be- 

 tween the " Titmice " and " Wrens ". As the author says they are probably 

 more properly placed amongst the TimelidK where accordingly one would 

 have ex[)ected him to have placed them. 



The second portion of " Birds of Burma " consists of a distribution list of 

 birds according to certain areas as defined by the author. 



In the introduction to the list he divides Burma into ten areas, but in the 

 distribution list itself, he reduces them, to 7, omitting Myithyone, the Northern 

 Chin Hills and Arrakan. 



In many ways this is a leally valuable piece of work and of a far higher stand- 

 ard than the preceding portion of the volume from which it might well have 

 been separately published. In combining the two parts, one is led to infer 

 that the author has compiled this list in the hopes that the casual observer and 

 budding naturalist, for whom alone the early part of the book is undoubtedly 

 intended, will add to it his own records of observations. Now unscientific 

 observations upon Zoological distribution are valueless, and the record therefore 

 of a bird's occurrence, given on the strength of identification arrived at from 

 a perusal of the descriptions given in " Birds of Burma," would not be 

 worth placing on paper, except for the personal gratification of the writer. 



Major Harington's list, as it now stands, compiled from his own observations 

 and from the Ornithologists he quotes, is a valuable addition to the literature 

 on Indian Ornithology, but if improved fO and added to by his readers (with 

 few exceptions), would steadily become less and less authentic and reliable. 



Both parts of " Birds of Burma" will well stand reproduction, but we should 

 like to see the two parts separated. The first part would be more readable, if 

 enlarged and carefully edited : and whilst rather more minute descriptions of 

 the birds are desirable, we should certainly en]oy reading more of the author's 

 interesting field notes. 



The second part is a scientific work, and, though of great use to beginners, 

 would be of even greater utility and interest to the advanced field natuialist, 

 who would make it the basis of his own records. 



The column which contains the rough notes (4) is perhaps unnecessary, and 

 might be eliminated in favour of a marginal column to be headed "Notes." 



E. C.S.B. 



