1896. SOME NEW BOOKS. 389 



four years. In its present extended form the book is a great 

 improvement on its predecessor, and, indeed, can no longer be 

 regarded as a mere list of horn measurements, but forms, to a great 

 extent, a valuable guide to the distribution — and, in some instances, 

 to the habits — of the animals coming under the designation of Big 

 Game. Especially is this the case with the African antelopes, in 

 regard to which a series of interesting notes are communicated by 

 that well-known observer and sportsman, Mr. H. A. Bryden, and it 

 seems almost a pity that other authorities were not engaged to 

 perform the same office for the animals of other regions. 



As so many additions have been made to the genera and species 

 of African antelopes of late years — to say nothing of emendations of 

 the generic and specific titles of the previously-known forms — the 

 book will be found a valuable guide to this group of ungulates to 

 those who are unable to obtain the expensive memoir of Messrs. 

 Sclater and Thomas. Indeed, almost the only fault we have to find 

 with this part of the work is that in quoting from the original 

 descriptions of several species, such as Madoqna philUpsi and M. 

 swaynei (pp. 104, 105), Cohns penvicei (p. 121), and Cervicapra chanleri 

 (p. 137), the author has retained the " n. sp." after each name. 

 The spelling of some of the popular names, as Lechwe, for the 

 simpler Lichi, is, moreover, not to our personal liking, although it 

 must be confessed that such matters are largely dependent upon the 

 individual taste of the writers. So far as we can see, the list of 

 antelopes is wonderfully complete, and includes such recently- 

 described forms as Cobtis penvicei and C thomasi (1895). Curiously 

 enough, Dorcatragus megalotis, described in 1894, appears, however, to 

 be omitted — at least, this name does not occur in the index. But 

 then, is the index so to be trusted ? We have tested it only in one 

 place, where we found the following : — 



Oreas canna .. .. .. 212 



Oreotragus derbianus .. .. 116 



sal tat or .. .. 212 



This should read : — 



Oyeas canna , , . . ., 212 



derbianus .. .. .. 212 



Oreatragus saltator .. .. 116 



We are not going to make this slip a reproach to the author, as we 

 know too well, by sad personal experience, how exceedingly difficult 

 it is to attain accuracy in such matters ; but we would suggest that 

 in the next edition the book would be vastly improved by a systematic 

 index at the beginning. 



With respect to the special object of the book — the measurement 

 of the horns, antlers, tusks, and skins of Big Game — the author 

 has evidently spared no pains, and he has in many cases been enabled 

 to increase the '* records " of the previous edition. Every sportsman 

 will in this portion of the work find a mine of interest, and the 

 scientific naturalist will likewise not fail to discover matter worthy of 

 his attention. 



In the matter of illustrations, the present issue contrasts most 

 favourably with its predecessor, the number of cuts of heads having 

 been greatly increased. Nearly all of these are excellent portraits so 

 far as the actual deUneation is concerned. But, for our own taste, 

 many of them are far too " chalky." This is especially noteworthy 

 in the case of the eland head, figured on page 211, which in this 



