148 NATURAL SCIENCE. Aug. 



we have no hesitation in saying that the plan and execution of the 

 work are in every way worthy of the high reputation of its author ; 

 while the excellence of the illustrations, and the careful manner in 

 which a complicated typography has been executed, reflect credit 

 alike on author and publishers. In calling in the aid of such a master 

 of avian anatomy and morphology as Dr. Gadow, for articles coming 

 within his special province, the author shows that he does not pretend 

 to omniscience even in his particular branch of zoology, and thus 

 affords an example which might be followed with advantage by others. 

 The other writers mentioned on the title-page have likewise contributed 

 articles on certain branches of ornithology with which they are more 

 especially acquainted ; and, so far as this instalment permits of form- 

 ing a judgment, the work thus seems as complete and authoritative 

 as it could well be made. That its style, although necessarily 

 condensed, is terse and elegant, all acquainted with the author's 

 previous writings stand in no need of being informed ; while its 

 freedom from typographical errors affords a refreshing contrast to 

 some works that have recently come under our notice. Indeed, we 

 have hitherto detected but a single misprint (p. 281, line 2 from 

 bottom), and that is the fault of one of his contributors rather than of 

 the author himself. 



Of the illustrations, two of which we are enabled to give as 

 samples, some are entirely new, others are reduced from figures 

 previously published, while others again have been borrowed directly 

 from earlier ornithological writers ; and we are glad to see Swainson's 

 exquisite figures of beaks and heads once more brought prominently 

 before the public. 



In our limited space it would be impossible to give a detailed 

 notice of any of the articles ; and, indeed, if such space were available, 

 we should be puzzled to know which to select for special commenda- 

 tion. We may mention, however, that each bird, or genus of birds, 

 is generally described under its vernacular name — whether this be 

 English or foreign — although cross references will be found under the 

 scientific titles of the genera. Among the articles that have specially 

 interested us, are those on the cassowary and emeu, which are admir- 

 able samples of what a brief semi-popular description of a bird and 

 its habits should be ; while the article headed " Extermination " cannot 

 fail to arouse a general, if somewhat mournful, interest. We may, 

 however, be permitted to ask the author why he states under the 

 head of Emeu that this "is the only form of Ratite bird which 

 naturally takes to the water, and examples have been seen voluntarily 

 swimming a wide river." We do not for one moment venture to say 

 that the statement may not be perfectly correct, but at the same time 

 we should like to know what reason the author has for discrediting 

 the following account of the habits of the Rhea (or Ostrich as it is 

 there called) given in the " Voyage of the ' Beagle.' " Darwin there 

 writes that " it is not generally known that ostriches take readily to 

 the water. Mr. King informs me that at the Bay of San Bias and 

 at Port Valdes, in Patagonia, he saw these birds swimming several 

 times from island to island. They ran into the water both when 

 driven down to a point, and likewise of their own accord when not 

 frightened ; the distance crossed was about two hundred yards. 

 When swimming, very little of their bodies appear above water ; 

 their necks are extended a little forward, and their progress is slow. 

 On two occasions I saw some ostriches swimming across the Santa 

 Cruz river, where its course was about four hundred yards wide, and 



