Handbook of British Birds.



185



of Great Crested Grebes with their young, I heard the song of a Black¬

cap ; and presently the bird flew up out of a clump of rhododendrons

on to a branch of a tree, where I had a good view of him.


The Grebes were swimming about under the overhanging

branches of a small island in the middle of the pond ; their two young

ones, about a third the size of their parents, showed a bold and

adventurous spirit by occasionally sallying forth some little way out

into the open, to the apparent annoyance of their parents, one or other

of which woidd come out and escort them back to safety amongst the

bushes.


With the aid of field-glasses it was quite easy to see the curiously

striped heads and necks of the young ones.


Most of what are called the common birds abounded : White-

throats, Chaffinches, Jackdaws, Robins, Blackbirds, and many others ;

surely no other great city can boast of such a number and variety of

birds in her suburbs as London can ?


What makes Richmond Park such a good place to observe birds

in is, I think, the huge number of harmless visitors that go there daily,

for many birds that would skulk and hide when approached anywhere

else, seem here to be almost indifferent to such an everyday sight as

a human being—or two—sitting beneath a tree.



REVIEWS.


A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS*


We have received a further instalment of this useful and well-

written work. The section before us deals with Buntings, Larks, Pipits,

and Wagtails—a favourite group with many, embracing as it does such

interesting forms. Both illustrations and letterpress are a pleasure to

study, and the high level of the preceding parts is fully maintained. We

would specially mention Mr. Gronvold’s exquisite plate of Wagtails,



A Practical Handbook of British Birds. Edited by H. F. Witherby. In eighteen

Parts. Illustrated. London : Witherby & Co. Trice 4s. net per Part.



