238 Recent Literature. |~ADril 



eye-muscle nerves and ciliary ganglion of the common chick, including 

 the anatomy, histology, and development. The investigation appears to 

 have been conducted with great thoroughness and minuteness of research, 

 but the subject is too technical in its terms and methods to warrant more 

 than general mention in the present connection. The historical side is 

 presented with great fullness, the 'bibliography' alone occupying fourteen 

 pages; the researches of previous authors are summarized and discussed, 

 as regards not only these structures in birds but in the other vertebrate 

 classes. The work was done under the guidance of Professor E. L. Mark, 

 arid forms No. 172 of the 'Contributions from the Zoological Laboratory 

 of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College.' — J. A. A. 



Whitaker's 'The Birds of Tunisia.' — This sumptuous work, 1 in two 

 royal octavo volumes, with numerous colored plates, is a beautiful example 

 of bookmaking, and the contents are worthy of the setting. The number 

 of species treated is "about 365," of which 150 are permanently resident, 

 90 are summer migrants, 90 are winter migrants, and 35 are of occasional 

 or accidental occurrence. Under each are given, first, the synonymic 

 and bibliographical references to the species as birds of Tunisia, followed 

 by the description (in smaller type than the rest of the text), and a bio- 

 graphical notice of from one to several pages, as the case may require, 

 with often remarks on the status and relationships of the forms under 

 notice. "Most of the information," s'ays the author, "given regarding 

 the occurrence and life of the several species in Tunisia is first hand, and 

 the result of personal observation during the various journeys I have 

 made in the Regency, but in some cases I have had to rely on the infor- 

 mation kindly supplied me by others, foremost among whom I may men- 

 tion Mr. O. V. Aplin of Bloxham, Oxon, who collected for me in Tunisia 

 between the months of January and June, 1895, and M. Blanc of Tunis." 

 The author's own collecting expeditions in Tunisia extended over a period 

 of about ten years; and he speaks of the country as unrivalled in climate 

 during a large part of the year, and as delightful to visit for sport and 

 natural history investigations. The scenery and climatic conditions are 

 varied, richly wooded mountains and valleys, with fertile plains relieved 

 by lakes and rivers, characterizing the northern districts, while the central 

 region consists of undulating park-like country, broken by lower hills, 

 giving place further south to vast semi-desert prairie-like plains. In the 



1 The | Birds of Tunisia | being a History of the Birds found in | the Regency of 

 Tunis | By | J. I. S. Whitaker | F. Z. S., M. B. O. U., etc. | Vol. I[-II]. | London | 

 R. H. Porter | 7, Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W. | — | 1905. — 2 vols., large 

 Svo. Vol. I, pp. i-xxxii-|- 1-294, frontispiece (photogravure), 1 half-tone, 13 pll. 

 col., and map: Vol. II. pp. i-xviii+ 1-410, frontispiece (photogravure), 1 half-tone, 

 2 pll. col., and map. Edition limited to 2.50 copies. 



