^°'- "•] Reviews. A I 



IQ02 J I 



scriptive matter ; but, although it is difficult to say where a Dove 

 ends and a Pigeon begins, Australians will probably never learn 

 to call all the Bronzewings Doves. Exception must be taken 

 to the statement (page 80) that " there can be little doubt that 

 the eggs of all Pigeons are white when first laid." When Mr. 

 Oates has had the pleasure of examining the eggs of Chalcophaps, 

 Geophaps, Loplwphaps, &c., he will no doubt observe that the 

 shells possess a very decided light creamy tint or tone. 



The two eggs from New South Wales, described as pertaining 

 to Gallinula tenebrosa, are not typical, if they belong to that 

 species at all. They should have a stony colour, not creamy- 

 white. Moreover, the dimensions are much too small. However, 

 Mr. Oates may enjoy the comfortable reflection that he has been 

 in very good company, and has not been the first author to go 

 astray over the Gallinule's eggs from New South Wales. 



The description of the q%^ of the Cape Petrel {Daptton 

 capensis) may stand as a provisional one till authenticated 

 examples come to hand. One or other of the Antarctic explor- 

 ation vessels now out will doubtless fall in with a rookery of 

 these most interesting Petrels. 



Students and collectors generally will look forward ex- 

 pectantly to the completion of the volumes, comprising a most 

 interesting and valuable work of reference. 



IN THE SOUDAN. 



["Bird-Hunting on the While Nile: a NaturaHst's Experiences in the 

 Soudan." By Harry F. Witherby, F.Z.S., &c. London : The office of Knowledge, 

 1902. 8vo, pp. 1-117.] 



In the reprint from Knowledge entitled " Bird- Hunting on the 

 White Nile," Mr. Witherby describes his experiences on an 

 ornithological expedition as far south as El-Kawa, some 150 

 miles beyond Khartoum. The habits of people and birds are 

 depicted both by pen and camera, and the difficulties which 

 beset such a journey are most interestingly portrayed. The 

 trip " was made during the driest months of a very dry year," 

 which is said by the author to be in one sense a favourable time, 

 there being very few visitors then. Seventy birds and 17 

 mammals are listed as collected and observed, but it is noted 

 that 141 species were identified, of which only four are recorded 

 as nesting. The latter included a small Lark {Fyrrhulazida 

 otoleuca, Temm.), two Doves {Turtur anibigiius, Boc, and Oena 

 capensis, Linn.), and the smallest of the many Shrikes found 

 {Nilaus afer, Lath.) Birds seem to have been plentiful all 

 along the river, but the only one new to science was a tiny Fan- 

 tail Warbler {Cisticola aridula, Witherby). Two rare species 

 were, however, secured — a Horned Owl {Scops leucates, Temm.), 

 and a Goatsucker {Caprwiulgus eximins, Temm.) 



