166 Recently published Ornithological Works. [Ibis, 



was a remarkal)ly close and accurate observer of bird-life, 

 and that lie was able to record his observations in a delight- 

 fully simple and charming manner. 



JNIany interesting accounts are given of a variety of birds — 

 the Gannet, Shag, Cormorant, Norfolk Plover. Nightjar, 

 Stoneeliat, SliDrt-eared Owl, and several Aecipiti-ine l)irds 

 are a few concerning which the author sup|)lies information, 

 gathered in every case at first hand. His essay on the 

 Snipe is a really valuable contribution to ornithology ; 

 no fewer than thirty-three p;iges are devoted to this species, 

 and not one line is dull reading. 



In his essay on the Grey Partridge, Mr. Ogilvie pays a 

 well-deserved compliment to Mr. Ogdvie-Grant as being 

 the first authority to point out the plumage differences 

 of the male and female Partridge, finally exploding the old 

 incorrec^t theory, still so often held by sj)ort!smen, that the 

 male bird alone has a horseshoe on its breast. Mr. Ogilvie 

 lully bears out Mr. Ogilvie-Grant^s deductions, and cor- 

 roboration from so careful a source is always welcome. 



Both the Grey and the French Red-legged Partridge are 

 dealt with in this ariicle^ which may be strongly recom- 

 mended to future monographers of the birds in question. 

 It is worthy of note that Mr. Ogilvie puts forward a strong 

 plea on behalf ot the " Frenchman," and anyone who has 

 shot these sporting birds will surely endorse his views. 



A chapter of peculiar economic interest, both to sportsmen 

 and agriculturists, contains the results of the author's in- 

 vestigations into the food of the three Scotch game-birds — 

 the lied (j rouse, the Blackcock, and the Ptarmigan, and, 

 incidentally, of the Cuckoo ; while in a later chapter the 

 food of some of our commoner Falconidae is discussed. 



Attention is drawn to the desirability ,of altering, by 

 Act of Parliament, the opening date when Black Game 

 may be shot from the 20th of August to the 1st of October, 

 and correspondingly the close (season commencing on the 

 1st of February instead of the 10th of December, as is at 

 present the ease — a change which from every point of view 

 seems advisable. 



