1 92 1.] Recently pub lis Jied Ornithological Works. 549 



Henry Gurney, sen., wliose work on the Accipitres is 

 known to us all. 



Gurney on the Annals of Ornithology . 



[Early Annals of Ornithology. By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S. With illus- 

 trations from Photographs and old Prints. Pp. 8+240. London 

 (Witherby), 192L 8vo.] 



We desire to heartily congratulate Mr. Gurney on the 

 completion of his long-expected ' Annals of Ornithology.^ 

 We can imagine that the compilation of the work has 

 been a labour of love to its author, and it certainly has 

 provided a rich storehouse of ornithological lore to the 

 reader. ''To collect all the ancient passages about birds, 

 of any special interest, but more particularly those which 

 concerned British Birds, and to string them together in 

 order of date " was the author's scheme as set out in the 

 preface, and although the outcome of this endeavour has 

 resulted in a somewhat disjointed account of the various 

 species, owing no doubt to the interpolation of fresh matter 

 after the first proofs were set up, the general interest of the 

 work is by no means diminished thereby. The 'Annals' 

 embrace a period ranging from prehistoric times till the 

 close of the eighteenth century, and include a very full 

 collection of extracts from the various rare and ancient 

 books which deal with matters ornithological in these 

 islands, though we notice that the passages in Fynes 

 Morrison^s " Itinerary '^ (1G17) referring to the " Foules " 

 of England and Ireland '^ are omitted, and we should have 



* The latter runs as follows : — "Ireland hath great plenty of Birds 

 and Foules, hut by reason of their naturall sloth, they had little 

 delight or skill in Birding or Fowling. But Ireland hath neither 

 singing Nightingall, nor chattering Pye, nor undermining Moule, nor 

 blacke crow, but onely Crowes of mingled colour, such as we call 

 Ttoyston Crowes. They have such plenty of Pheasants, as I have 

 known sixtie served at one feast, and abound much more with Rayles ; 

 but partridges are somewhat rare. There be very many Eagles : and 

 great plenty of Hares, Conies, Hawkes, called Gosse-Hawkes, much 

 esteemed with us. . . . The Hawkes of Ireland called Goss-Hawkes 

 are (as I said) much esteemed iu England, and they are sort out by 

 mony and all means to be transported thither," 



