70



Reviews.



Five specimens of Jackson’s, or the Drooping - tailed

Whydak ( Drepanoplectis jacksoni ), two Crimson-ringed Whydahs

(.Penthetria laticauda), and two White-cheeked Colies ( Colins

leucotis ) have been presented to the Society bj r Mrs. G. Style.

The two species of Whydahs are both new to the collection ;

they are both said to be common around Nairobi, but at present

the birds imported from East Africa are few and far between.


A Black-throated Hangnest ( Icterus gularis ), a Banded

Tinamou ( Crypturus noctivagus'), a Ground Hornbill ( Bucorax

abyssinicus') and a pair of White-necked Cranes are additions

that are worthy of special mention.


The Black-tailed Waterhens ( Miao (rib onyx ventralis) have

reared a second brood of two chicks, and there are three young

Black-footed Penguins in the nests.


At present the Waterfowl section of the menagerie is

rather over-crowded, but it will be satisfactory to those interested

in this group of birds to know that the large paddock, west of

the new Polar Bear enclosure, is being laid out for the Anaiidae .


D. S-S.



REVIEWS.


THE HOME EIFE OF THE SPOONBILL. *


The fascinating pursuit of bird-photography is responsible

for the production of this beautiful little book. The title is

perhaps somewhat misleading, as it deals not only with Spoon¬

bills but also in equal detail with the Home Life of the Stork,

Common Heron and Purple Heron. The plates, which form

the chief feature of the book, are extremely good, and being

the actual photos, suitably mounted on tinted card, there has

been no loss of detail in reproduction, and they form some of

the best illustrations we have seen. The text, which is by com¬

parison a minor portion of the book, is very readable, the author

is undoubtedly a keen observer and, apart from the added interest

given to the pictures, his story abounds in many little facts

which, if we mistake not, are new to most of us.



*7 he Home Lije of the Spoonbill, by Mr. Bentley Bee i ham. 47pp. and 32 full page

photographs. London: Witherby & Co. 5/- net.



