304 Analyses of Books, [Ocr. 
family have not been so particularly noted as they might have 
been. 
Larus Islandicas. Iceland Gull.—-So called on the authority 
of Mr. L. Edmondston, by whom it was first recognised as a 
British bird in1814. Mr. B.’s figure is evidently that of an 
immature bird. The trivial name of zeélandicus would, per- 
haps, have been as appropriate as the one given. It differs 
from all the larger species known in this country, in having the 
primary quills white to the very points. We shouid like to see 
a more detailed description of its specific character and habits * 
A very ingenious and promising young naturalist informed us 
he had met with this bird lately, in Bantry Bay, Ireland. By 
the way, the more unfrequented parts of the Irish coast are 
likely to present a very fruitful and hitherto unexplained field 
for ornithological pursuits. And here we cannot avoid ex- 
pressing our surprise and regret, that, considering the number 
of intelligent and well-educated men (especially in the medical 
profession) belonging to the sister island, so little should have 
been contributed by them to the advancement of this branch ot 
natural history. 
Larus Fuscus—Lin. Goéland a manteau gris brun—Buf. 
Herring Gull.—Though not the most numerous, yet the most 
generally disseminated, and familiarly known of the whole 
genus. This gull is described at length in the work; but we 
notice it here for the purpose of remarking that the portrait 
now given of it, will, we have little doubt, be allowed by every 
attentive observer to be admirable. The artist has, with his 
usual intuitive and felicitous tact, seized on the leading pe- 
culiarities in the character and manner of this bird,—particu- 
larly its eager watchfulness, readiness to take flight, and give 
warning to all in its neighbourhood of approaching danger. 
This siugular fact, in the history of the herring gull, was first 
distinctly pointed out by Dr. Edmondston, in his View of the 
Zetland Islands. The instinct is quite unconnected with the 
protection of its nest or young ones. A similar instinct, but 
more limited in its object and operation, belongs to the L. Ma- 
rinus, or black, backed gull. It is a little curious that Sparr- 
man takes notice of a species of otis, at the Cape of Good 
Hope, which he says, “ conceals itself perfectly, with great art, 
till one comes pretty near to it, when, on a sudden, it soars 
aloft, and almost perpendicularly, into the air, with a sharp, 
hasty, and quivering scream, which is an alarm to the animals 
throughout the whole neighbourhood, discovering the approach 
of a sportsman or enemy of some kind or other.” It seems 
uncertain whether the bird which now goes by the name of 
herring gull was the original L. Fascus of Linneeus, brown, being 
a colour nothing applicable to the back of this gull. 
™ Mr. E. has lately sent to the Edinb Museum an adult bird, with a particular 
description. j 
