Vol. XVII 
1900 
Recent Literature. 307 
‘ 
in greater fullness, so as to make the work strictly an original contribution 
to the life history of such species as he had had opportunity to study 
personally in the field. 
Pearson’s ‘ Beyond Petsora Eastward.’ !—While the principal scientific 
results of the voyages here detailed have previously been published, in 
‘The Ibis,’ ‘The Journal of Botany,’ and the ‘ Quarterly Journal of Geol- 
ogy, ‘Beyond Petsora Eastward’ will be welcomed by both the general 
reader and the naturalist us a most interesting contribution to the his- 
tory of Arctic exploration. Mr. Pearson was accompanied by Colonel 
Feilden, so well known for his important contributions to the natural 
history of various portions of the high North, and on the first voyage by 
the Rev. H. H. Slater, an ornithologist and botanist of large experience, 
his place being taken on the second voyage by Mr. Frederick Curtis, a 
student of Guy’s Hospital. While the book is written by Mr. Pearson, 
he acknowledges his indebtedness to Colonel Feilden for the use of his 
diaries in the preparation of the work. The narrative takes the diary 
form, which greatly increases its interest for the general reader. Mr. 
Pearson in speaking of the work in his preface says: ‘‘It may be com- 
plained that the whole thing is far too ‘birdy,’ and without doubt birds 
and their doings occupy the largest portion; but the study of bird-life 
was the first reason and object of the voyages. Birds also are my excuse 
for adopting the form of a strict diary ; for one of the chief interests con- 
nected with the study of their habits during the breeding season is the 
date at which they complete the various stages from nidification to the 
appearance of the young birds in full plumage on the wing.” 
We have here outlined the objects of the expeditions and the method of 
presentation of the results. It need only be said that every page is full 
of interest, and especially is the narrative replete with information for 
the ornithologist. Nearly one fourth of the 88 half tone plates relate to 
birds, giving excellent representations of the nests and breeding haunts 
of various Arctic breeding birds, few of which have been previously illus- 
trated. Among them are nests and eggs of the Dotterel, Red-throated 
Pipit, Rough-legged Buzzard (including young of various ages), Little 
Stint, Shore Lark, Snow Owl, Read-throated Diver, Briinnich’s Guille- 
mot, Red-necked Phalarope, and other species. There is also a colored 
plate of the eggs of the Little Stint (Zr7nga minuta), showing three sets 
varying greatly in color. 
1« Beyond Petsora | Eastward” | Two Summer Voyages to | Novaya Zem 
lya | and the Islands of Barents Sea | By | Henry J. Pearson | With Appen 
dices | on the Botany and Geology | by | Colonel H. W. Feilden | London | 
R. H. Porter | 7 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W | 1899.— Royal 8vo, pp. 
i-xiv-+-I—335, with 1 colored and 88 half-tone plates, and 8 maps and plans. 
Price, 22s. 6d., nett. 
