REVIEWS 495 



The work represents a stupendous undertaking. Three editions will 

 appear simultaneously, the format de luxe being the most elaborate and 

 the most pleasing. This itself is being produced in seven different editions, 

 the difierences lying mainly in the paper used and in the substitution of 

 photographs of particular interest in one locality for those of particular interest 

 in another. The de luxe format, in all its editions, represents the finest 

 American work in book production. 



The Book-lover's edition differs from the de luxe in having the margins 

 much reduced and also the number of colour-plates and photogravures. The 

 text and half-tone cuts are exactly the same. 



The student's edition has the margins still further reduced, as also the 

 colour and other full-page illustrations, and it is printed on cheaper paper. 



The text illustrations and half-tone cuts of photographs are the same 

 in all editions and are to number over a thousand. They are very well 

 reproduced from excellent originals. The photogravures are, unfortunately, 

 not so successful, which is a pity as they apparently include the pick of the 

 author's photographs. In the two parts that have reached us there is a single 

 actual hand-made photographic print. We understand that each issue of the 

 de luxe format is to include at least one such. If subsequent prints are of the 

 same quality as this first, they will form an attractive and important feature 

 of the work. But of all the illustrations, the colour plates will probably make 

 the strongest appeal to the bird student. Painted by Brooks, our greatest 

 Canadian artist, they have been very successfully reproduced in the four-colour 

 process by a London firm. Comparison of the pictures with actual skins 

 leaves a most favourable impression. As to the paintings themselves, they 

 are what we have learnt to expect from Major Brooks's talented brush. Their 

 value is enormously enhanced by the fact that the artist is one of America's 

 leading ornithologists — quite apart from his art — and is thoroughly conversant 

 with his subjects in life. He is particularly fortunate in his portrayal of 

 typical attitudes, a comparatively rare and most valuable gift. 



The text is made up, for each series, of a concise scientific description, 

 followed by an article on the bird in question. Whether we like the author's 

 style or not must be a matter of personal taste. The amount of fresh informa- 

 tion embodied in the text will make this publication a most important edition 

 to American Ornithological Literature. The fact that the author is an ardent 

 and exceptionally able oologist adds to the value of the book, for the eggs 

 as well as the birds get their full share of attention. The Birds of California 

 is therefore an all-round production, and must take its place, from every stand- 

 point, in the front rank of the world's bird books. W. R. 



Insect Pests of Farm, Garden and Orchard. By E. D. Sanderson. Second 

 Edition by L. M. Peairs. [Pp. vi + 707, with 604 figures.] (New 

 York : John Wiley & Sons, 1921. Price 26s.) 



Some years ago it was estimated that the annual damage done by insects in 

 the United States reached the extraordinary total of $1,000,000,000, and it is 

 generally conceded that this was a conservative estimate and the actual loss 

 is now greater in addition to the rise in the prices of such commodities. The 

 study of these pests therefore becomes of great practical importance. The 

 first edition of the present manual was issued in 191 2, since when there has 

 been a great increase in our knowledge of the pests and the method of com- 

 batting them, with the result that, while this volume is termed a second edition, 

 it possesses several new chapters and a great deal of new matter. 



The first chapters are general ones dealing with the nature of the injuries, 

 structure of insects, methods of control, etc., and the subsequent chapters take 

 up the most important crops and deal with the insects affecting them. 



The whole book is lucidly written and copiously illustrated and should be 

 assured of a wide sale. C. H. O'D. 



