144 BOOKS RECEIVED. 
England only when the approach of winter renders its own clime too in- 
hospitable. The author of the Summary has taken considerable pains to get 
together all the notices he could of its occurrence last autumn in various 
parts of the country, and has been so successful, that, however scarce it may 
have been deemed fifty years ago, it deserves now, we should think, to have 
its name taken off the list of rare birds. ‘The nearest locality to us, noticed 
in the book, is an eyot of the Thames, not far from Pangbourne, where one 
was shot; but we doubt not others might have been seen still nearer; those 
sedgy willow eyots that occur so plentifully in various parts of the river must 
harbour a great many birds, and would prove a world of discovery if 
well examined. Our readers will recollect that it was by one of them that 
the Little Bittern (A7dea minuta) was taken a year or two ago by one of our 
members. We cannot help regretting that the pamphlet bears such ample 
testimony to the general tendency to shoot everything that is at all rare; 
the great majority of the specimens seen were killed, and we must protest 
particularly against the conduct of the gentleman who shot eighteen out of 
one flock; we doubt whether the bird will be so common this year. Its 
natural tameness is much against it, as is evident from the number knocked 
down with hand weapons, and maimed with missiles from those arch-enemies 
of animals in general—boys: we trust the school-boy who ‘‘stoned’”’ one at 
Stokes Bay will get a few lessons in Natural History. A very nice map 
accompanies the work. 
The Naturalists’ Circular, August and September, 1867. (London: Henry 
Hall, 56, Old Bailey, E.C.) 
This little magazine, an enlarged form of one which has long been known 
among amateur naturalists, bids fair to take rank among the most useful of 
our serials. Its specialty is an Exchange List, in which appear the names 
and addresses of those naturalists who are willing to assist their brethren in 
the collection of the various objects of their study. Short practical articles, 
as those on ‘*‘ Lamps for the Microscope,’’ ‘‘ Larva-Rearing,’’ &c. : papers on 
matters of general interest to the naturalist, and notes and queries, make up 
each number. The Vuturalists’ Circular seems likely to take the place of the 
lately-defunct Watwralist, but we trust will not share its untimely fate. Its 
price is 2d. monthly. 
Country Life: A Journal of Rural Pursuits and Recreation. (London : 
10, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, H.C.) Price 2d. weekly. 
We have received No. 4 of this new periodical; and, if we may take it as 
a specimen of the whole, can give it our sincere recommendation. It is, as 
its name implies, a paper for dwellers in the country; the gardener, the 
angler, and, what more immediately concerns us, the naturalist, will find 
each of their pursuits duly attended to. The principalarticle in the number 
before usis oneon ‘The Cholera Fungus,” by Mr. M.C. Cooke, a well-known 
authority on fungi in general. He carefully weighs the evidence for and 
against, and thus concludes: ‘* The crime is not proved against the prisoner 
at the bar, and he is acquitted. Let us hope that the experiments will be 
continued, and that in the meanwhile no absurd ery will be raised about a 
‘cholera fungus.’’’ Other interesting papers are those on ‘ Fishermen’s 
Flies,” ‘‘ Jottings by the Way,” and ‘ Poultry-keeping:’’ “‘ The Garden’’ 
is well looked after. 
The Entomologist, Nos. 44 and 45.—There is no falling off in the interest of 
this periodical. Several good descriptions of larve are to be found in these 
two numbers, and a lengthy note on the ** Hop Insect.’’ We commend it to 
the notice of all our entomological readers. 
