

610 Recent Literature. LOct. 



where to obtain books, pamphlets, and pictures illustrating bird life, etc. 

 There are numerous half-tone illustrations from the Audubon section of 

 'Bird-Lore'. 



As Mr. Pearson states in the foreword, teachers in New York State 

 schools are now required by law to give some instruction in bird-study 

 and it is likely that this will be a wide spread custom before many years 

 pass by. In view of this fact and the extensive voluntary instruction 

 now being given in the schools of the country, this little pamphlet of Dr. 

 Leggitt's will be particularly welcome. — W. S. 



Hudson's Recent Bird Books. — W. H. Hudson, well known for his 

 writings on Patagonia, has recently published what is essentially a new 

 edition of his 'Birds in a Village,' the first book written after his return 

 to England, in 1893. The present volume bearing the title 'Birds in 

 Town and Village' 1 has been largely rewritten and for portions of the old 

 work which have been discarded, a series of new chapters entitled 'Birds 

 in a Cornish Village' has been added. 



The book deals with the familiar British birds and presents an intimate 

 study of most of the species which will prove of value to the ornithologist 

 as a work of reference while the enthusiasm of the writer will maintain 

 the interest of any reader who may have only a slight interest in the "great 

 out of doors." Unfortunately there is no way for one to find again the 

 many interesting facts which he has passed in his reading and to which 

 he may wish to refer, as no index has been provided by the publishers. 



Another recent work by the same author is entitled 'Adventures among 

 Birds' 2 and consists of a miscellaneous series of essays on birds that have 

 appeared in various of the British magazines. Most of them describe 

 tramps through various parts of England and no one who loves walking 

 and nature can read the author's descriptions of his searches for the rarer 

 species of birds and the aspects of the country through which he passed 

 without having his sympathy aroused and wishing that he might follow 

 those same paths. 



As in the case of the former volume there are many observations of 

 value scattered all through the pages. There is considerable discussion 

 of bird song and its origin, the author differing with Mr. Witchell who 

 ascribes the resemblances to human music which we recognize in some 

 bird songs to mimetic ability. He considers that the Blackbird's song 

 for instance approaches nearer to our music and that of the Grasshopper 

 Warbler and certain other species to insect music, "simply because it is 

 their nature" to do so. The illustrations to this book are reproductions 

 of the Bewick woodcuts; while those of the former volume are in color 



1 Birds in Town and Village. By W. H. Hudson, F.Z.S. With Pictures in 

 Colour by E. J. Detmold, New York. E. P. Dutton & Company, 681 Fifth 

 Avenue, 1920, pp. 1-323. S plates. 



2 Adventures among Birds. By W. H. Hudson, New York. E. P. Dutton & 

 Company, 681 Fifth Avenue, 1920, pp. 1-319. 



