246 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



bottled in the years 1865 to 1870, thus proving that their 

 vitaHty was not impaired after a close confinement of half a 

 century ! 



The Birds of Britain. By A. H. Evans, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 

 Cambridge University Press. Price 4s. net. 



This little book is primarily intended for the ute of schools and we 

 think that as an introduction to the birds of Britain, it will prove most 

 useful to a large circle of readers. Each of the commoner species is 

 briefly but clearly described, and the range of the bird indicated, while 

 at the end we have a list of the occasional and rare visitors. The 

 introduction " On the Class Aves, or Birds in General " is the work of a 

 master hand. In it, the author deals concisely with many interesting 

 branches of the subject, such as moult, flight, migration and distribution ; 

 only long and profound study could enable anyone to treat this vast 

 subject so briefly and yet so clearly. The summaries, introducing the 

 families, are models of their kind. The book is illustrated by photo- 

 graphs chiefly taken from nature ; most of these are excellent and some 

 are quite charming, others, however, as is almost inevitable, are 

 disappointing. That labelled "Spotted Flycatcher" on page 65 is 

 upside down and appears to us to represent the Pied Flycatcher. A 

 very useful illustration is that on page 4 showing the nomenclature of 

 the external parts of a Falcon. 



The author's method of dealing with the sub-species is unfortunate 

 and in some cases very misleading. He frequently fails to make clear 

 the difference between the distribution of the species and that of the 

 sub-species, for instance, when dealing with the " Common or Song 

 Thrush (7". viusicus clarkii)" he states that "its foreign range is not 

 very dissimilar to that of the last species" (Missel Thrush), qualifying, 

 however, this statement by adding, "but the Continental form is 

 distinguishable from the British in coloration." Had Mr Evans been 

 treating of the species as a whole, this distribution would have been 

 correct, as, however, he is dealing with our British bird under a trinomial 

 it is decidedly confusing. Several other birds are treated in the same 

 confused manner, while others, such as P. ater Mtanm'cus are quite 

 clearly put and it seems a pity that one clear method had not been 

 followed in every case. It would be interesting to know on what 

 grounds Mr Evans founds his statement that the increase of Great 

 Spotted Woodpeckers breeding in Scotland is attributable to the autumn 

 immigrants from the Continent. As far as ue know all the Scottish 

 breeding birds which have been critically examined, belong to the same 

 race as those which breed in England, viz. Dryobates major anglicus. 

 Apart from the above criticisms, and a few slips such as, " Loch Leven 

 in Fifeshire," which should of course be Kinross-shire, the book is one 

 of much merit, and the perusal of these scholarly pages will, we feel 

 sure, give pleasure not only to the tyro, but also to the veteran 

 ornithologist. 



