The Ooloo;ists Record, December 1, 1923. 89 



The second volume is divided into three parts. The first 

 63 pages deal with the food of many spe.cies, showing which are 

 useful and which harmful ; the next 133 pages give descriptions, of 

 the better known species, their distribution, habits, and, in some 

 cases, of their eggs ; while the remaining 126 pages consist of a 

 systematic, but regrettably incomplete, list of the birds of South 

 Africa, with the addition of Dutch and native names for a good 

 many. 



Some of the birds are only dealt with in groups. Of ten species 

 of Serin only four are described separately, only one Eagle is 

 described, and, out of 36 species of Larks, we find detail only in 

 regard to three. 



The coloured plates, borrowed from another work, are excellent, 

 but the very numerous half-tones appear to have been made from 

 photographs of indifferently mounted specimens. 



In spite of its defects as a guide for the nature student, the work 

 should certainly appeal to a wide circle who desire an introduction 

 to the bird life of South Africa? 



TRACKS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



W. and A. K. Johnston, Ltd., Edinburgh, 4s. net. 



These useful and instructive charts, mounted for hanging on the 

 wall, should find a place in the gun-room of every large country 

 house, in the bird-lover's sanctum, and the schoolroom. Accurately 

 delineated and printed with care, the illustrations should enable 

 even the uninitiated to name a bird from the print left by its feet 

 on soft ground or snow. 



WILD BIRD ADVENTURES. 



By Richard Kearton, F.Z.S., &c., Cassell & Co., Ltd., 5s. net. 



Though this dainty little volume is ostensibly written for young 

 people, there will be few experienced oologists who will not read it 

 with the greatest pleasure. For Richard Kearton is never prosy, 

 never dull, and every succeeding volume of his breathes the freshness 

 of wild nature itself. The half-tones, mainly of birds at their nests, 



