Recently published Ornithological Works. 371 



'Birds of Lancashire/ already favourably noticed in these 

 pages, and it would be hard to say which is the better of 

 the two. Both of the authors of the present Avork are 

 excellent field-natui-alists, and have received ample assistance 

 from numerous collaborators of the same stamp. The total 

 number of the species recorded is 250, of which 84 are resi- 

 dentSj 81 periodical visitants, and 85 are of irregular and 

 accidental occurrence. A. strong feature is the care with 

 which their distribution is treated ; and many British orni- 

 thologists will learn with surprise that the only satisfactory 

 case of the occurrence of the Nuthatch in Cumberland dates 

 back to May 1782, when Heysham received one of a pair 

 from Armathwaite. The Siskin has been found to be a 

 regular breeder in some parts of the county during the last 

 few years; but the Twite has, for some unknown reason, 

 decreased. The Raven is stated to be nearly as abundant 

 as it was half a century ago ; but game-preservers will feel 

 satisfaction at hearing that the Hooded Crow is only a 

 scarce and winter visitant to Cumberland. For descriptions 

 of birds in their breeding-haunts, attention may be especially 

 directed to the account of the Pied Flycatcher (p. 31) and 

 of the Dotterel (p. 133) by Mr. Frank Nicholson ; while lovers 

 of remarkable facts will be interested in the record of the 

 Lesser RedpolFs nest built entirely of cotton-waste close to 

 the Caledonian railway engine-shed. We had long been 

 aware that the telegraph-wires exercised an appreciably fatal 

 influence upon many species, especially game-birds ; but it is 

 sad to learn that the Tawny Owl, from its- habit of mousing 

 on railway lines, is often felled by locomotives. A few 

 clerical errors can be corrected in a later edition, and 

 it would be more consistent with the present custom if 

 capitals were omitted in the specific names. A map adds 

 to the usefulness of this excellent volume, which is fur- 

 ther embellished by a coloured plate of the Dotterel by 

 Keulemans. 



67. Meyer's Illustrations of Birds' Skeletons. 



[Abbildungen von Vogel-Skeletten. Herausgegebeii von Dr. A. B. 



