382 Recently published Ornithological Worhs. 



fact, Col. Verner has supplied us with a complete manual 

 of egg-hunting based on his own long experiences, and 

 abundantly illustrated by his remarkable artistic talent. 



Before commencing the main part of his work Col. Verner 

 devotes several chapters to the preparations required by 

 him who would go egg-hunting, and describes the para- 

 phernalia required, as shown by his experiences during thirty- 

 four years. Not only is the ordinary camping-out furniture 

 described, but the ropes and shoes necessary for rock- and 

 tree-climbing are distinctly specified. The ■ leader of the 

 expedition must " carry on his person " aneroid, watch, 

 silk-rope, whistle, hunting-belt, swivels, knives, note-book, 

 field-glass, telescope, compass, sketch-book, and small hand- 

 camera; while ropes, canvas-sling, casting-line and weight, 

 egg-boxes, and various other articles may be entrusted to 

 his assistants. 



After these preliminaries come chapters on the lagunas, 

 plains, woodlands, sea-cliifs, and sierras of Southern Spain, 

 and on the birds that specially resort to each of them. 

 The larger birds naturally occupy most attention, but the 

 smaller species are not forgotten. 



" Among those which abound on the vega in spring is 

 the handsome Calandra Lark [Alauda calandra), a fine bird 

 with a conspicuous black gorget. Both this and the 

 Common Bunting are very numerous. The pretty little 

 Crested Lark is also abundant, its sweet flute-like call 

 being constantly heard. The smaller Short-toed Larks of 

 both species [Alauda brachydactyla and A. bcetica) are also 

 met with. The Common Fan-tail Warbler [Cisticola 

 cursitans) is constantly to be seen and heard, its curious 

 jerky flight and sharp staccato call making it easy to 

 recognise." 



In Southern Spain the Crane is the typical bird of the 

 laguna, the Great Bustard of the plains, the Osprey of the 

 shore, the Booted, Snake- and White-shouldered Eagles 

 those of the forests, and the Grifi'on Vulture and Lammer- 

 geyer of the sierras ; although these birds occasionally 

 intrude into each other's domains. Full accounts are 



