X BlUTISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



discovered tliem ; no imaginary details, as is so often 

 the case in illustrations of bird-life, but tlie actual 

 nest itself, so that the perusal of the book is a birds'- 

 nesting expedition. The descriptions of the birds 

 and of the material of the nests are both adequate 

 and instructive, and the latter will be most useful. 



I am certain that we are not going to hear the 

 last of Mr. Keaiton and his brother with the present 

 volume ; and, if I may suggest, naturalists would 

 especially like to hear more of their birds' -nesting 

 experiences in detail. There is so much still to 

 be learnt about the habits of birds, even of our 

 commoner kinds ; and in a long course of editing 

 and writing of books on birds, I find the greatest 

 difiiculty in gathering any new facts about their 

 habits. Even in my suburban garden I have 

 learnt many interesting facts ; and anyone wdio has 

 travelled, like Mr. Kearton, in search of subjects for 

 the pen and camera, must have much to tell. That 

 he could relate his experiences excellently, too, is 

 evident from his preface to the present work, and 

 I can only hope that he will speedily do so. The 

 difficulties which he and his brother have sur- 

 mounted in procuring their series of beautiful photo- 

 graphs of British birds' nests, prove that there is 

 nothing which the}^ would not dare ; and I can assure 

 them that there is nothing for them to fear from 

 the British public, who will undoubtedly be glad to 

 hear some more of their stories of bird-life in the 

 field. 



E. BOWDLEK SHAKPE. 



British Museum (Nat. Hist.), 

 South Kensington, 



Sept. 7, 1895. 



