VOl 'l906" m J Recent Literature. 239 



Introduction, where the country is described at length, Tunisia is con- 

 sidered as divisible into four distinct faunal areas: (1) the Northern, 

 comprising that part of the Regency north of the Atlas Mountains, a 

 well-wooded and well-watered district with an annual rainfall, in different 

 parts, of about 18 to 40 inches; (2) the Central, consisting of several more 

 or less elevated plateaux, less fertile and more arid, with an annual rainfall 

 of only about 8 inches and a much higher temperature; (3) a semi- 

 desert region adjoining to the southward, with very little rain anywhere 

 and some parts practically rainless, a high summer temperature, and 

 a scanty, dwarfed flora, except in the oases; (4) the Desert-region, situ- 

 ated still further to the southward, composed chiefly of "sandy desert or 

 sand-dunes formed of blown sand, intermixed here and there with more 

 solid ground," and the vegetation limited to "a few desert-plants which 

 eke out an existence in spots where there may be a little moisture." A 

 faunal map illustrates the boundaries of these several areas, and also 

 shows the topographic features on a satisfactory scale. 



This diversity of physical conditions naturally affects the ranges of the 

 species, some that are abundant in one part of the country being rare or 

 entirely absent in other parts. "Most noticeable also," says the author, 

 " is the variation in the coloration of birds according to their more easterly 

 or westerly habitat in this portion of North-west Africa, the tendency 

 of species in Tunisia being to become pale, whereas in Marocco, on the 

 contrary, the inclination is towards an intensity of colour. " As long 

 ago as 1863, Professor Newton (Ibis, 1863, p. 189) in referring to "Mr. 

 Wallaston's admirable remarks on the effects of isolation and exposure 

 to a stormy atmosphere upon the insect world, alludes to the effect of the 

 latter conditions as one of the principal causes of the darkening of the 

 plumage of birds. 1 " 



The classification and nomenclature adopted are more or less in accord- 

 ance with the out-of-date system employed long ago by Dresser in his 

 'Birds of Europe.' The author has, however, departed therefrom so 

 far as to use trinomials for local forms, or subspecies, respecting which 

 he says: "It would, indeed, be contrary to the advancement of science 

 not to do so, and no true lover of Nature would wilfully close his eyes to 

 their recognition." The plates are admirably drawn by Gronvold, and 

 well reproduced by Mintern Brothers. Respecting the purpose of the 

 work, the author says it "is merely intended to be a short, though I trust 

 a faithful, history of the birds to be met with in the Regency of Tunis. 

 It may, I hope, be of some use to ornithologists and bird-lovers generally, 

 and in particular to those who may travel in the country of which it treats, 

 which has proved to me for many years so 'happy a hunting ground,' 



1 Professor Newton's extended and definite reference, nearly half a century ago, 

 to the influence of climatic conditions in modifying coloration in birds, with par- 

 ticular reference to certain British species, is of special historic interest. 



