1894. SOME NEW BOOKS. 137 



pilers have appropriated whole pages of Seebohm's writings in order 

 to use them as padding in their own books. Dr. Sharpe would 

 have done well to lighten his text with a brief extract from Warde 

 Fowler's excellent bvocJiure on the habits of the Marsh Warbler, 

 or Gurney's graphic account of the Bearded Titmice that nest (in 

 sadly diminished numbers) in the Norfolk Broads. A long series of 

 excellent papers might have been drawn upon with advantage. After 

 all, we must not be too exacting. It is something of a privilege that 

 Dr. Sharpe should lay aside his important monographs in order 

 to instruct our youth in such a limited subject as " British Birds," 

 and we might seem ungrateful if we found serious fault with the 

 execution of his task. It is only fair to say that Dr. Sharpe has 

 taken great trouble to anticipate the requirements of beginners, as 

 well as the points that advanced students are likely to raise. The 

 characters of each genus are tersely and comprehensively described. 

 The various problems of distribution are discussed and explained 

 with judgment. Every variety of information seems to be afforded 

 by one or other of the separate paragraphs into which Dr. Sharpe 

 has wisely divided his text. The changes of plumage receive full 

 and lucid treatment. The size and colouration of the egg-shells of 

 British Birds are fully described, apparently from the National 

 Collection, which Mr. Seebohm has recently arranged and classified. 

 Altogether, we may say that Dr. Sharpe has been exceedingly 

 successful in his first venture, which augurs well for the quality of the 

 numerous volumes which are to follow. The most grudging critic 

 would find it hard to withhold a high meed of praise from the letter- 

 press. From beginning to end it is nothing less than admirable. 

 Would that it were possible to speak in the same terms of the coloured 

 plates. They are numerous — surprisingly so for the price of the 

 book — and we hope that they may prove useful ; but they are not up 

 to the mark by any means. If the series arranged by Messrs. Allen 

 is intended to have a large circulation, we incline to think that the 

 publishers would do well to sanction a more liberal expenditure on 

 illustrations. 



American Eggs. 



Smithsonian Institution. Comparative Oology of North American Birds, By 

 R. W. Shufeldt. 8vo. Pp. 461-493. Washington, 1S94. 



Dr. Shufeldt is always interesting, and every one of his numerous 

 papers possesses the value which independent and original views are 

 sure to command. The Comparative Oology of North American 

 birds is an attractive subject, far too comprehensive, in fact, to be 

 satisfactorily dealt with in a pamphlet of only thirty octavo 

 pages. The most prominent defect in Dr. Shufeldt's essay is that he 

 has given his facts in so condensed a form, and in such intricate 

 sentences, that it is often difficult to follow his arguments or even to 

 comprehend the conclusion at which we are expected to arrive. The 

 chief portion of the information here cited is borrowed direct from 

 well-known sources, notably, from the writings of Messrs. Coues and 

 Ridgway, which have long been accessible to everyone at home and 

 abroad. Occasionally Dr. Shufeldt ventures upon statements which 

 are certainly wide of the fact : as, for example, when he 

 asserts that the American buzzards " never defend their eggs 

 by direct attack." Indeed it would be easy to enumerate a number 

 of points upon which Dr. Shufeldt's opinion should be modified by the 

 experience of his American confreres. But there is much that is good 



