Vol.^xyill-j Recent Literature. 4O9 



And for this reason, he sajs, he has called his book ' Bird Watching.' 

 In a certain sense it is unique, and forms a most valuable record of patient 

 and minute observations of wild British birds in a state of nature. The 

 scope of the work maj' be indicated bj the following transcript of the 

 headings of the twelve chapters: I, Watching Great Plovers, etc.; II, 

 Watching Ringed Plovers, Redshanks, Pewits, etc.; Ill, Watching Stock- 

 Doves, Wood-Pigeons, Snipe, etc.; IV, Watching Wheatears, Dabchicks, 

 Oyster-catchers, etc.; V, Watching Gulls and Skuas; VI, Watching 

 Ravens, Curlews, Eider-Ducks, etc.; VII, Watching Shags and Guillemots; 

 VIII, Watching Birds at a Straw-stack ; IX, Watching Birds in the Green- 

 woods ; X and XI, Watching Rooks ; XII, Watching Blackbirds, Night- 

 ingales, Sand-Mai'tins, etc. 



The amount of original and interesting information here brought 

 together renders the book noteworthy and important, but it is perhaps 

 marred a little, and certainly greatly swelled in volume, by the author's 

 propensity to theorize and philosophize on what he has seen, especially 

 where the observations do not furnish proper basis for speculative 

 digressions. 



In the first place the author is a strong believer in the efficacy of ' sexual 

 selection,' and it is consequently from this point of view that he interprets 

 the behavior of the birds he has so carefully watched. His arguments, he 

 seems himself willing to admit, are here and there a little far-fetched and 

 inconclusive, and to this extent they had better have been wholly omitted 

 from an otherwise excellent book. Lack of space forbids a detailed 

 reference to particular instances, and also prevents the transcription here 

 of many passages in illustration of the author's admirable descriptions of 

 what he has seen amid the wild crags of the sea-coast, on the moorlands, 

 or in the 'greenwoods.' His felicity of description often makes readable, 

 and even gives special interest, to what might easily become a dull recital 

 if rendered by a less gifted narrator. But in general, to the bird lover, the 

 incidents possess in themselves an interest that gives a charm to the 

 pages of ' Bird Watching.' 



The photogravure and text illustrations are from drawings by the well- 

 known bird artist J. Smit, and, having been doubtless made under the 

 author's careful supervision, are probably as good substitutes for the 

 truthful pictures of the camera as could be well devised. 



A very full index i-enders the contents of the book readily available. 

 ' Bird Watching,' it may be added, forms a volume of the ' Haddon Hall 

 Library ' series, edited by the ISIarquess of Granby and Mr. George A. B. 

 Dewar. — J. A. A. 



Publications Received. — Bangs, Outram. (i) On a Collection of 

 Birds from the Liu Kiu Islands. (Bull. Mus. Comp. Z06I., XXXVI, No. 8, 

 July, 1901.) (3) A New Honey Creeper from San Miguel Island, Panama. 

 (Proc. N. Engl. Zool. Club, II, pp. 51-52. Feb. 8, 1901.) (3) Notes on the 

 American Rough-winged Swallows, with Description of a new Sub- 



