Bevieiu I'd


three specimens. In shape they closely resemble the African Grey

Parrot, but are hardly as large. Their general body colour is green ;

primaries of wings edged with black ; outer webs of tail-feathers bright

blue ; under tail coverts, scarlet ; head, brown ; cheeks, brown,

each feather edged with brown, giving it a pretty scaly appearance ;

bill, yellow ; bare skin around eye, white. They are rather quiet and

apathetic in their demeanour, but this may be due to their rather

rough condition. If they improve I shall try and breed from them

next season.



REVIEW


A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 1


The author of this book is a very keen observer, and has made most


careful and minute studies of the habits of the creatures around him


during a residence in the Himalayan Valley of Hazara, between the


years 1915 and 1916. The accounts he gives of the. life-history of the


various species of ants, spiders, butterflies, and such-like creatures are


fascinating, but all point to the following of a blind propelling instinct


with complete lack of reasoning power. The author describes the


method employed by the Harvester Ants in collecting their winter


store of grain ; how the carnivorous species, Phidole indica, on finding


its prey, hurries back to the nest to communicate the intelligence to


the army of workers and soldiers waiting for such a call ; how the


geometrical spider constructs its wonderful snare with mathematical


precision. These and other small creatures have the secrets of their


lives divulged in this fascinating volume, which, however, is not entirely


confined to these small fry. The author has a chapter of observations


on mammals, in which he deals with the leopard, Himalayan monkey,


and flying squirrel, and another on birds, in which his remarks and


deductions on soaring flight, migration, nesting instinct, and so forth


are particularly interesting and instructive. There is not much


aviculture in this volume, but as the majority of aviculturists are


naturalists first, it will appeal to many readers of this journal.


1 A Naturalist in Himalaya, by Capt. R. W. G. Kingston, M.C., I. M.S.

Demy 8vo, cloth; 16 page illustrations. Price 18s. net. H. F. and <;.

Witherby, 326 High Holborn, W.C. 1.



