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401



could fly on July 15th), they ceased to squat, and began to run

off when disturbed, and took no pains to hide themselves.


They are now (August 24th) as perfect as wild birds, and

seem of the same size as the mother, so I fear they are all females.

If one or more had been a Ruff, it would have been interesting

to notice whether later on they would at all have resembled their

male parent, who each spring assumes a handsome black and

chestnut nuptial dress.


Although I am aware that the Reeve has occasionally laid

in aviaries, this is the first time, so far as I know, that young of

this species have been reared in confinement in this country.



REVIEW.


BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS.*


The beautifully-illustrated work published by Messrs.

Brumby and Clarke some few years ago under the title of British

Birds zvith their nests and eggs hardly met with the amount of

support it deserved from the hands of British ornithologists. It

is true that of the making of books on British birds there is no

end, but this work was unique in that the different species were

admirably figured zvith their nests, and a most beautiful series of

coloured plates of the eggs of every species was also given, all

the illustrations being by Mr. Frohawk. Another point, in our

opinion in favour of the work, was that it was not the production

of one man only, but the various families were separately

treated by authorities who were especially capable of dealing

with them.


Perhaps the most useful part of the work above referred to

consisted of the full and concise notes on the nests and eggs,

together with the unequalled series of plates of not only the

typical eggs, but also of the numerous varieties.


It is satisfactory to find that the Publishers have been

persuaded to re-issue the magnificent series of coloured plates


• Birds’ Eggs of the British Isles. Collated by Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D., F.L.S.,

F.Z.S., etc. Illustrated by F. W. Frohawk, M.B.O U., F.E.S. (Brumby & Clarke, Limited,

Hull and London.



