Revieivs.



7i



The method by which the young are fed by their parents

is a case in point, and one which should be of especial interest

to aviculturists, since it is by a knowledge of such details that

success in breeding captive birds may be more easily attained.

The care with which a Heron erected a gorse screen to shelter

her from the camera, the readiness with which young Purple

Herons find their way back to their own nest, the failure of old

or young Herons to recognize their own young. These and many

similar notes bring the birds to our minds as living and reasoning

beings, and, apart from fostering a love and appreciation of birds

in general, should give the book a permanent value to the more

scientific ornithologist. Like Oliver Twist, we should like more,

and hope that sufficient encouragement will be given to this work

to justif)^ Mr. Beetham in giving us the Home Life of some other

families.



A NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. *


Readers of the Avicultural Magazine will already have read

many of these notes, which are a reprint of the articles with

which the author has already favoured us. Mr. Seth-Smith has,

however, added many other notes of considerable interest on the

mammals which he came across, as well as several plates w'hicli

did not appear in the Magazine. The book gives a very vivid

and pleasing description of the commoner birds and mammals to

be met with, and those that catch the newcomer’s eye on a first

visit. The fascination of being for the first time in a country

where the whole fauna is strange, and of seeing birds that have

previously only been known in captivity, in their native haunts,

is not given to all of us. In the perusal of this book, however,

we are able to realise even in a faint degree the pleasure of such

an experience, and to comprehend a little of the spirit which has

driven so many to explore and collect in distant lands.



* Notes on a Naturalist's Visit to Australia, by D. Skth -Smith, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.

60pp. and sis plates , 2/- net. R. H. Porter, 7, Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W.



