l64 ■ ' . Reviews: [,,f7,„. 



Reviews. 



[" How to Sex Cage Birds (British and Foreign)." By Arthur C. Butler, Ph.D., 

 F.L.S. F.Z.S.. M.B.O.U., &c., &c. With over fifty ilhistrations and four coloured 

 plates. ' The Feathered World. Canary and Cas;e-Bird Life. 9 Arundel -street. 

 Strand, London. N.C.] 



Dr. Butler has added another important work to his 

 already long list of useful books, most of which are familiar to 

 Australians. "How to Sex Cage Birds" will not only be of 

 value to the aviculturists, but also to ornithologists, both field 

 and cabinet. The author's own appreciation of his work is 

 modestly put thus : — 



" The object of the present work is to enable owners of birds 

 to decide to what sex they belong, and I hope that the labour 

 which I have expended upon the study of external sexual differ- 

 ences, embodied in the ensuing chapters, will prove useful not 

 .only to the student of birds in captivity, but of cabinet 

 specimens. Primarily, I naturally offer it as a sort of vade 

 mecuin for the use of aviculturists, and should it only be of 

 assistance to them, I shall feel amply repaid for the time and 

 trouble which I have expended in its production." 



The present work treats of over 900 species of birds, many of 

 of which are Australian — notably Cockatoos, Parrakeets, and 

 Finches. However, Dr. Butler's remarks are brief in connection 

 with the Pink or Leadbeater Cockatoo {Cacatua leadbeateri). 

 He will find, in nature, that the male bird has a black eye, while 

 that of the female is brownish. In the Rose Cockatoo or 

 Galah {C. roseicapilla) the male also has a black eye, but in 

 the female it is of a pearl-like colour. With reference to the 

 Indian Banded Parrakeet {Pahvornis fasciatd), Australian avi- 

 culturists who have kept the bird are of opinion that both 

 sexes, when mature, possess red bills. The bill is dark in 

 young birds, and commences to turn red with the first moult. 



Among the illustrations is a taxidermist's group of Laughing 

 Jackasses (Dacelo ^(^as) from a photograph by Messrs. Kerry, 

 Sydney. Price 3s. 6d. 



["From Range to .Sea: a Bird Lover's Ways." By Charles Barrett. T. C. 

 Lothian, Melbourne.] 



This "Christmas pamphlet" includes a preface by Mr. Donald 

 Macdonald and many photo.-pictures from nature by Mr. A. 

 H. E. Mattingley. Mr. Barrett (who, by the way, is a member 

 of the A.O.U.^ is to be heartily congratulated on his maiden 

 effort at publishing nature notes. Judging simply by this 

 booklet, Mr. Barrett has a great future before him as a nature 

 observer and writer. The publishing price of " From Range to 

 Sea" is one shilling. 



