432 Recent Literature. i.Iiv 



Uuly 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



'A Practical Handbook of British Birds.' — So rapidly does ornitho- 

 logical knowledge increase that new books upon the birds of any country 

 seem to be always in order. Even in England with its w T ealth of orni- 

 thological literature there seems to be a need for a new general work on the 

 bird life, and this being the case none are better able to produce the desired 

 volume than the authors who are associated in the present undertaking. 1 



From the introductory note we learn that the work is to consist of keys 

 to the species, subspecies and higher groups; full descriptions prepared on 

 a uniform plan and covering all the plumages and molts, the resources of 

 Lord Rothschild's collections and those of the British Museum having 

 been drawn upon, in this connection. Field characters are also to be 

 described as well as breeding habits, food, geographic distribution and 

 migration; the various authors dealing with the subjects upon which they 

 are authorities. 



The present part deals with the Corvidse, Sturnidse, Oriolidse and part 

 of the Fringillidse. The nomenclature follows that of the ' Hand List ' 

 for which several of the authors are responsible, and there are references 

 to the original description of each species as well as to several of the 

 standard works on British birds. Then follows a very complete descrip- 

 tion with a short paragraph giving the names and characters of the allied 

 continental races, but where two races occur in the British Isles they are 

 both treated at length under separate headings. Under breeding habits 

 are given a brief description of the nest and eggs, with measurements; a 

 statement of the breeding season, length of incubation, fledgling period, etc. 

 The food is briefly summarized and the character and extent of the migra- 

 tory movement is given, with average and extreme dates. The definite- 

 ness and compactness of the whole treatment are admirable and only those 

 who have attempted to collect such information about even our commonest 

 birds can appreciate the difficulty and the labor that are involved. In 

 spite of the vast amount of published matter relating to American birds 

 we doubt if such a compilation on the North American avifauna would be 

 possible today. Let any one make the attempt regarding the birds of his 

 own neighborhood and he will be surprised at the many points about which 

 information is lacking. 



Part I, the editor tells us, was printed before the war, but its issue was 

 suspended, so that certain additions are necessary to bring it up to date. 



i A Practical Handbook of British Birds. Edited by H. F. Witherby, F. Z. S., M. B. 

 O. U., Editor of British Birds (Mag. 1 ) Authors of the Various Sections; Ernst Hartert, Ph D 

 M. B. O. U., Annie C. Jackson, H. M. B. O. IL, Bev. F. B. C. Jourdain, M. A., M. B. O. 

 U.. C. Oldham, F. Z. S., M. B. O. U., Norman F. Ticehurst. M. A., F. B. C. S., M. B. O. 

 U.. and the Editor. Illustrated with Colored Plates and Numerous Text Figures. London, 

 Witherby & Co., High Holborn, W. C. I. In Eighteen Parts. Part I (pp. 1-64). March 

 3, 1919. Price 4s. net per part. 



