REVIEWS 153 



dity. In both plants and animals the origination of sex is carefully traced 

 from such forms as Euglena or Copromonas to the highest examples. This 

 part of the essays, while merely being a re-presentation of old facts, is skil- 

 fully written and is well worth reading. The zoologist will be certain to 

 enjoy the section on the growth of pollen grains. The lecture on " Some 

 Modifications of the Reproductive Process as Adaptations to Life upon 

 Land " embodies Professor Graham Kerr's essay previously printed in his 

 volume on Embryology, Pari II, Vertebrates, and need not be commented 

 upon here. The section on " Heredity in Man " contains the well-known 

 facts about the " Brachydactylous Family," the " Insane Father," and 

 the " Pairs of Brothers." This book will prove of value to the student of 

 zoology as well as to the layman who would like to read about the origin 

 of sex in both plants and animals. J. B. G. 



The Buzzard at Home. By Arthur Brook (" British Birds " Photographic 

 Series). [Pp. 15, with 12 plates.] (London: Wither by & Co. Price 

 3s. ()d. net.) 



This book is apparently the first of a new series of photographic books to 

 be brought out by Messrs. Witherby. The text is much shorter and the 

 illustrations fewer than is the case in the beautiful " Home Life " series by 

 the same publishers, but like these it is very readable and admirably produced. 



The book is one of a photographic series, and therefore one must assume 

 that the photos are the main feature. If the success of the volume is depen- 

 dent on these, there can be no doubt as to its achievement. They are excel- 

 lent, every one of the dozen. The Buzzard must be considered one of our 

 rare birds, and as such, these pictures of the species, male, female, and young, 

 will have a strong appeal to all bird-lovers. The nesting sites chosen are 

 usually of the most inaccessible kind, and Mr. Brook is to be congratulated 

 on having successfully overcome the many difficulties involved. 



The text, to be frank, is disappointing. It is pleasingly written, but it 

 adds little to our knowledge of the habits of this interesting bird. The 

 securing of photographs is, of course, an interesting hobby, and the resulting 

 pictures have their appeal to a large circle of bird- lovers and artists; but 

 it seems such a great pity that the collectors of these photographs, after 

 they have taken all the trouble of erecting a hide and surmounting in many 

 cases extraordinary difficulties (the present is an example), are content 

 with this very limited result. There is but a single allusion in the volume 

 to the cries and calls of the species. Notes on the behaviour of the young 

 are very scanty. There is no attempt at a description of the changes of 

 plumage as the birds mature, the rate of growth and so on. The author 

 spent a few hours at the hide one day and a few on another, but of course, 

 like the vast majority of bird photographers, was there only in fine weather. 

 Rain makes good photos impossible, but in many cases it makes the birds 

 themselves more interesting. A night was never spent on the spot, yet 

 the early morning and the late evening are the most instructive hours at 

 the nest. These remarks are, unfortunately, applicable to about 90 per cent, 

 of this type of book. That serious observation can be combined with good 

 photography, and to great advantage, is shown by such notes as those on 

 the Sparrow Hawk by Mr. J. H. Owen, that have from time to time appeared 

 in British Birds. The notes are the best of their kind, the photos unsur- 

 passed for beauty and technique. It is only in the exceptional cases such as 

 this that the bird photographer can be said seriously to further our know- 

 ledge of ornithology. 



That there is a large circle of book-lovers who delight in good photographs 

 and want nothing more is proved by the fact that there are so many books 

 catering to their special taste on the market. To these the present volume 

 can be heartily recommended. Wm. Rowan. 



