rSooK Rrviews. 217 



as one well worthy of reference, and the author upon the consumma- 

 tion of a long cherished plan. L. j. 



Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist. By Frank M. Chapman. 

 A book of 439 pages and 250 photographs from nature by the au- 

 thor. 



It is entirely fitting that Mr. Chapman should decide to share with 

 a wider group of people than even the multitudes which visit the 

 splendid collections which find a home in the American Museum of 

 Natural History, his many field experiences in securing the material 

 for museum groups ; and the sincere thanks of this larger public 

 are due him for the opportunity he thus affords them of seeing the 

 many different places which have been the scenes of his work. 



After a few short excursions "About Home" the author takes us 

 to Gardiner's and Cobb's Islands on the Atlantic coast, and from there 

 to Florida, where "Pelican Island, The Florida Great Blue Heron, 

 The Water Turkey, The American Egret, and Cuthbert Rookery" are 

 illustrated and described : then to Bahama, where "The Flamingo. 

 The Egg Birds, The Booby and the Man-o'-War Bird" furnish texts 

 for delightful pictures and interesting descriptions. Then we are 

 taken out onto the Plains for studies of "The Prairie Hen, A Gol- 

 den Eagle's Nest, and- Cactus Desert Bird-Life" ; and from here to 

 California for studies of "The Costal Mountains of Piru, The Coast 

 of Monterey, The Farallones, The San Joaquin Valley of Los Banos, 

 Lower Klamath Lake, and The Sierras" ; and lastly for this country 

 to western Canada for studies on "The Prairies, The Plains, The 

 Mountains, and The White Pelican." The book ends with "Impres- 

 sions of English Bird-Life." 



The book is written in Mr. Chapman's most charming stj'le, and 

 it is needless to say that the photographs are unexcelled. We can 

 think of nothing which would make a better Christmas present than 

 this book. 



The introductory pages deal with the methods of successful bird 

 photography, including the camera equipment and the construction 

 of blinds. The author points out that the blind is just as necessary 

 for any intensive study of birds as it is in successful photography. 

 We are also pleased to note that the author sti'ongly emphasizes the 

 importance of home studies of bird life and the great need of such 

 studies, in the following words : "Continuous and definitely directed 

 observation is the secret of success in the study of bird-life ; aud 

 only that permanency of residence which permits us to keep a close 

 watch on the species, through the year, aud on the individual 

 through the nesting season, will enable us to write an adequate his- 

 tory of its life." L. J. 



