2i6 Alexander, Additions to the Library. [isfAp.il 



birds in their natural surroundings, and as a result the account 

 of each species is adorned not only with a beautiful coloured plate 

 of the birds in their native haunts, but also with splendid photo- 

 graphs of typical habitats. Views of the scenery of Ceylon, 

 India, Burma, China, Japan, the Malay States, Borneo, and Java 

 are thus presented, and the views range from the tops of the 

 Himalayas to the shores of the tropical seas. Possibly the 

 author's word-pictures of the scenes in which he studied the 

 birds give an even more vivid impression than the actual illus- 

 trations. At all events, the accounts of the individual birds are 

 worthy of the illustrations. The Pheasants are treated from 

 every aspect. Their life-histories, plumages, variation, &c., their 

 history and treatment under domestication, methods of hunting 

 them, and native legends concerning them, are all recorded. 



The first volume deals with 17 species and 7 sub-species grouped 

 in four genera — namely. Blood Partridges [Ithagenes), Tragopans 

 {Tragopan), Impeyan Pheasants {Lophophorus), and Eared 

 Pheasants {Crossoptilon). There is also an introduction, treating 

 of Pheasants in general. 



The work is to be completed in four volumes, which subscribers 

 can obtain at /12 los. each. 



" The Australian Environment, Especially as Controlled by 

 Rainfall." Dr. Griffith Taylor. Memoir No. i of the 

 Commonwealth x\dvisory Council of Science and Industry. 

 (Received in exchange.) 

 This is a very suggestive work for all who are interested in the 

 geographical distribution of the animals and plants of Australia. 

 The author has summarized many of the records of the Common- 

 wealth Meteorological Bureau so as to show the connection 

 between the seasonal distribution of the rainfall, the physiography, 

 and the plant-life of Australia. The importance of uniformity 

 of rainfall as compared with the actual amount of rain received 

 during the year is shown by comparison of the map showing this 

 uniformity with that of the distribution of the chief types of 

 vegetation. The memoir is provided with coloured contour and 

 rainfall maps for each of the fifteen regions into which the author 

 divides the continent. These maps have been published separatel}^ 

 as an atlas, constituting the only complete set of contour maps 

 of AustraHa published hitherto. This atlas is obtainable from 

 the secretary of the Advisory Council, 314 Albert-street, East 

 Melbourne, for is. 6d., post free, and should prove useful to 

 members of the R.A.O.U. 



" Handbook oi the Birds of Eastern North America," 6th ed., 

 1899. (Presented by Mr. F. Keep.) 



" x\n Introduction to the Birds of Australia" (1848). J. Gould. 

 (Presented by Mr. G. H. Barker.) 

 This copy of a rare and little-known work by the " father of 



