Recenthj published Orn'itholog'icalWorks. 321 



3r. Aplin on the Birds of Carnarvonshire . 



[The Birds of Lleyn, West Carnarvonshire. By O. V. Aplin, F.L.S. 

 Zoologist, 1900, p. 489.] 



From an ornithological point of view Wales is perhaps 

 somewhat less known than any other part of Great Britain^ 

 and an article on its birds is on that account the more 

 welcome. Mr. Aplin writes of a portion of the Principality 

 with which few of us are intimately acquainted, and which 

 is of special interest not only from its proximity to Ireland, 

 but from its varied nature, combining as it does the beauty 

 of gorse-covered tracts and moorlands with bold cliffs, 

 islands, hills, marshes, and sandy shores. Few points seem 

 to have escaped the notice of the author or of his corre- 

 spondent, Mr. T. A. Coward, unless it be the breeding of 

 the Peregrine on St. TudwaFs Island. 



38. Astley on Birds in freedom and in confinement. 



[My Birds in Freedom and Captivity. By II. D. Astley. J. M. Uent 

 and Co., London. Pp. i-xvi, 1-254. Price V2s, Qd.^ 



Among the various works submitted to our notice there 

 are many that are pleasing and many that are profitable, but 

 comparatively few that leave us still unsatisfied and only 

 wishful for more. Such, however, is the case with that of 

 Mr. Astley. He disarms our criticism in the preface by frankly 

 stating that his book is not to be considered scientific, but 

 rather popular, and proceeds to furnish us with a series of 

 delightful sketches of bird-life, which exhibit at the same 

 time a true love of the subject, and every mark of careful 

 observation, be it at home, on the Continent, or in Egypt. 



Posing as the reverse of an " ordinary unobserver " of 

 birds, he discourses in happy phrase on their behaviour and 

 appearance, while he makes a valuable addition to his subject 

 in the special chapters on the management of those kept 

 in cages and aviaries, and on the cruelty too often practised 

 towards the feathered race. 



Perhaps the author's humanitarian ideas are not quite 

 consistent with his practice of retaining so large a number of 

 birds in confinement, but we are far from feeling inclined to 



SER. VIII. VOL. I. Y 



