REVIEW. 391 



the autumn of the succeeding year. The differences between 

 this bird and our own Fork-tailed Petrel the author is careful 

 to point out very clearly ; the two species have frequently 

 been confounded in the past, and it is in points such as this 

 that the working ornithologist will receive the greatest help 

 from such a monograph as the present. 



The Little Dusky Shearwater, which has now been obtained 

 four times in the British Isles, must now, we note, be referred 

 to as the Madeiran Shearwater (P. bailloni Bp.), as in the 

 present work the form inhabiting the Madeiras has been 

 separated by certain well-marked characteristics, giv^en at 

 length by the author, from Gould's original species, 

 P. assimilis, of the Australian seas. 



One or two forms, such as Oceanodroma heali and Puffinus 

 auduhoni. Dr. Godman evidently admits as good species with 

 great reluctance, and where distinctions depend entirely on 

 measurements and these vary to the extent they do in the 

 Petrels between birds of undoubtedly the same species, it 

 must ever be a difficult matter to decide on the validity or 

 ■otherwise of closely allied forms. In these cases while re- 

 taining them under their distinctive names and pointing out 

 their differences, the author carefully indicates the amount 

 of variation to which each is subject and his reasons for 

 doubting the goodness of the species. 



Of the forty-nine species described in the present instal- 

 ments thirty-nine are represented by coloured plates, carefully 

 drawn to scale by Mr. Keulemans and excellently reproduced 

 and hand-coloured. We do not remember to have ever seen 

 better examples of this artist's work ; as representations of 

 the individual species the plates are excellent, while for general 

 level of merit they will be hard to beat. The general style of 

 the work is worthy of the importance of the subject and 

 leaves nothing to be desired. A monograph on this large and 

 interesting group of birds has been a long-felt want, and Dr. 

 Godman is to be lieartily congratulated on the splendid com- 

 mencement he has made in the present two parts of his book, 

 which when completed will enrich the science of ornithology 

 with another monumental work. 



N. F. T. 



