•9Ci9 U . ■ . [The Emu 



ZOZ heVlCXCS [ ist Jan. 



The interesting little work which is the >ul)ject of this review 

 deals with the matter from many points of view. I'rofessor 

 Garstang writes verses on the subject of birds, and reproduces 

 most excellent black and white sketches by ]Mr. J. A. Shepherd, 

 the whole forming a most attractive v(jlume. I'rofes.sor Gar- 

 stang has not devoted his attention exclusively or even largely 

 to the setting down of the song of birds in musical notation, but 

 he has endeavored to rey)roduce it also l)y the syllabic method. 

 He describes the Blackbird as the P>eethoven of birds. He omits 

 reference to the extraordinary imitative capacity of the bird, 

 which reaches its maximum in Europe, at all events with the 

 Blackbird, which is able to imitate a large number of other 

 birds. The writer recently heard a Blackbird imitate the call 

 of a Korean duck to its ducklings. He traces the evolution of 

 the song of birds from the cry f)f alarm and surprise to the 

 deve]o|)mcnt of song, and naturally en(juires why the bird sings 

 as it does. 



Those who wish to obtain information so far as it can be 

 given are recommended to read this charming little book of about 

 100 pages. Our copy is from Angus & Robertson, booksellers, 

 Sydney. 



"ArSTKAIJAX NATURE-STUDIEvS." 



Dr. J. A. J^each has recently been elected President of the 

 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. It seems fit and 

 prof)er that he should issue his book "Nature Studies" at the 

 same time, if only to prove he is not likely to be an idle 

 President. 



The price of the book (12/6) is marvellously reasonable, con- 

 sidering that besides letterpress of good taste, point and diction, 

 there are 512 images, 2000 original drawings, and six handsome 

 art life coloured plates of rare and beautiful birds. These jilates 

 alone are worth half the price of the book. Why so cheap a 

 book? Becau.se the author has made his subject a labour of love, 

 into which he has put years of exceptional experience. I.e., as 

 organising inspector of nature study for the Education Depart- 

 ment of Victoria. 



The three principal parts of the work are: 1. "Plant Life;" 

 n. — "Animal Jyife" (which of course includes P>irds) ; and HI. — 

 "General Studies," which includes rocks and soils, action of 

 wind and water, etc." 



When the student has mastered the cha])ter on Birds. P>irds 

 of Australia, P.ird Structures, l>ills or P>eaks. J^egs and Feet, 

 Wings and Tails, Feathers and Colours, Nests and Eggs, he will, 

 indeed, be an ornithologist, not merely a "lover of ornithologv," 

 as pedantic ])crsons are i)lea.sed to call the bird-lovers. 



The romance of the moscpiito is most interesting — "Truth 

 stranger than nian\ fictiotis." The whole life-history of the in- 

 sect mav be followed at home in one's back \ar(l, where are 



