380 Recently published Ornithohcjical Works. 



contaiDed 96 skins, which are referred to 60 species. Two 

 of these are described as new — Psalidoprocne pallidiyula 

 and Macronyx ascensi. 



50. Scharfs ^European Animals.' 



[European Animals, their Geological History and Geographical Dis- 

 tribution. By E. F. Scharff, Ph.D., B.Sc. London : Constable & Co., 

 1907. 1 vol. 8vo, 258 pp.] 



In 1907 Dr. Scharff was invited to deliver the '^ Swiney 

 Lectures ""^ at South Kensington, and took for his subject 

 the important theme which forms the title of the present 

 work. The book is, in fact, entirely based upon his 

 lectures. Although Dr. Scharff has selected most of the 

 facts put forward in its course from Mammals, Mollusca, 

 and Insects and has made but few references to the Class of 

 Birds, we may venture to bring his volume to the notice of 

 ornithologists as one on a subject of great general interest 

 to the naturalist. We think, however, that in such a work 

 much more might have been said about the Birds of Europe 

 and the problems which their study presents to us. 



In the first place, it might have been mentioned that our 

 so-called " Continent'^ of Europe is but a fragment of the 

 great " Palsearctic Region,^' which embraces the whole of 

 Northern Asia, and that the northern strip of Africa, which 

 is discussed mainly under the title of " Mediterranean 

 Region," most certainly belongs to the same great primary 

 division, of which it is nothing more than a " Subregion.^' 

 This would have shown more exactly how the European 

 Fauna is related to that of the rest of the world. 



Amongst the bird-topics mentioned is the possibility 

 recognised by some authorities of small embryo animals and 

 seeds being carried about by birds on their feet on migration, 

 which, however, does not seem to be supported by auy 

 sufficient evidence. The so-called " irruptions " of birds in 

 large numbers into distant areas, as in the cases of Pallas's 

 Sandgrouse and the Nutcracker, are also alluded to. The 

 phenomenon of " discontinuous distribution " presented by 

 Cyanopica cyanea and C. cooki is commented upon. But no 



