244



Reviews.



vided it is perfectly rigid, alarms a bird far less than does a

concealed camera, strange though it may seem (p. 61).


Mr, Beetham has an abundance of patience, as can be seen

by a perusal of his interesting book, and this is a sine qua non

for the would-be successful bird - photographer. The photo¬

graphic plates, illustrating the results obtainable by the different

methods described, are admirable, though not quite up to the

standard of those published in his earlier works.


The book is well and clearly printed, and is of a handy

size for use in the field. For the beginner it contains a mass of

information, and the practised bird-photographer will doubtless

find many useful ‘‘tips” in this volume which we heartily re¬

commend.



ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. *


Mr. Wormald has written a short, but very practicable,

pamphlet on the management of the different species of Wild

Fowl most often seen on ornamental waters.


Details of food, the best size for enclosures and the rearing

of the young are very fully given and should enable the most

inexperienced to keep these birds with success. Most people,

who make a speciality of any particular group of live stock, have

usually their own particular methods which they have learnt

from experience, and although Mr. Wormald’s methods are in

the main those we should recommend, we cannot agree in keep¬

ing young ducklings away from water as he suggests. In their

natural state ducklings take to the water within a few hours of

hatching and we have always had the best results from following

Nature in this respect; unless however they have free access to

water from the first, they must not be allowed a swim till at least

a month old, when the feathers are beginning to grow.


The sea ducks and diving ducks are dealt with by Mr.

St. Quintin, than whom we have no greater authority on such

matters. The book is illustrated by twenty-two black and white

plates by Mr. Wormald, which will assist the beginner in re¬

cognising the various species.



'Notes on the Management of Ornamental Waterfowl in Confinement, by Hugh Wormald

vo. 18pp. and 22 full-page illustrations.



