200



RECENT PUBLICATIONS.



* PARRAKEETS.


Our Secretary has asked me to review the first part of this

admirable work : and, although others of our members would

doubtless be more competent to do justice to a treatise upon the

Psittaci, it is delightful to be able to express one’s pleasure at

the appearance of another well-illustrated avicultural book, by

one of our scientific members.


At one time Aviculture was looked down upon as a mere

pastime, by systematic ornithologists : the fact being, that its

methods of observation were unenlightened, its attention

to scientific details wanting, its publications frivolous, and

abominably illustrated. Of late years all this has changed:

so that the avicultural publications now being issued compare

favourably with those produced by cabinet-workers; and have

an equal claim to recognition by the scientific world.


The first part of Mr. Seth-Smith’s book now before us,

comprises an account of the Loriidce ; of Calopsittcicus, Ncisitcrna,

and the Conurince; and consists of forty pages of clearly printed,

concise, instructive, information ; invaluable to all who elect to

make a study of these birds.


The three new coloured plates, by Goodehild, are admir¬

able in drawing and pose of the subjects ; but I could wish that

he had been willing to sacrifice some of the brilliant colouring

to light and shade : it would have relieved Forsten’s Lorikeet of

its flatness, if there had been shading on the tibial feathers and

under tail-coverts.


Frohawk’s plate of the Ornate Lorikeet is one of the least

pleasing of that artist’s productions : certainly the subject is an

unhappy one for any artist to portray, from its resemblance to an

old-fashioned worsted mat ; but Frohawk has done many better

plates than that.


Two of the blocks in the text are unsatisfactory:—the

Cockatiel contemplating suicide on page 21 ; and the hunch¬

backed Golden Conure with a gum-boil, on page 31: the latter

reminds me forcibly of an old apple-woman who used to sit at

her stall in St. Paul’s Churchyard, hard by Shan the baker’s,

when I was a lad : it is far too decrepit and surly-looking for any

Parrakeet I ever came across.


• Parra keets : A practical handbook to those species kept in captivity. By D. Skth-Smith,

F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Part I. Price 6/-. London: R. II. Portkk, 7, Princes Street,

Cavendish Square.



