30



RECENT PUBLICATIONS.



THE BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA.*


The second volume of Dr. Stark’s valuable contribution to

the Ornithology of South Africa is at last to hand. We have

had to wait some lime for it but it is well worth waiting for, and

quite conies up to the high standard of his first volume. The

Editor in his Preface reminds us of the tragic and melancholy

end of the author in Eadysmith, when the first volume only was

in the printers’ hands and the manuscript for the second volume

was by no means complete. Dr. Stark’s materials were, however,

placed in the hands of Mr. W. L. Sclater who has completed

the volume, which deals with the second half of the Passerine

Birds, and includes the Bush - shrikes, Babblers, Bulbuls,

Warblers, Rock-jumpers, Thrushes, Chats, Robins, Fly¬

catchers, Drongos, Cuckoo-shrikes, Swallows, and Pittas.


This work is well illustrated, all the illustrations (with one

exception) being by Mr. H. Gronvold. The only direct repro¬

duction from a photograph is most successful and represents a

Cape Rock Thrush with nest and eggs in its natural surround¬

ings ; amongst the eggs being one laid by the Solitary Cuckoo.


This is a work that should find its way to the libraries of

all who are interested in South African Ornithology.



THE CAGE BIRDS OF CAECUTTA.


A very interesting paper, and one of considerable

importance to aviculturists, entitled “ The Cage Birds of

Calcutta,” by our valued member, Mr. Frank Finn, appeared in

the Ibis for July last, and has recently been reprinted and a copy

kindly sent us by the Author.


The taste for cage birds in India seems to date back from a

very remote period, but we are sorry to find that “ the fancy ” is

no longer what it was, although Calcutta still rejoices in a very

well-known bird market.


The breeding of birds in aviaries appears to be little under¬

stood in India, most species being kept either singly in small

cages, or several examples being housed together in larger cages.


Insectivorous birds are the favourite cage birds in India,

and these are fed for the most part on “ the flour of gram, a


•“The Fauna of South Africa” — “Birds”; Vol. IX., by Arthur C. Stark, MB.

Completed by W. L,. Sclater, M.A., F.Z.S. I.ondon : R. II. Porti?r.



