llo Recent Literature. \ 



Auk 

 Jan. 



The birds were first trained to search for food indiscriminately in the 

 various chambers, and then developing an odor in the chamber containing 

 the food record was kept as to whether or not the bird entered this chamber 

 in preference to any of the others. The experiments were repeated a 

 number of times and with different odorous materials. Although the birds 

 never learned to find their food with perfect accuracy, it was evident that 

 they were guided to some extent by at least one of the materials used; 

 the percentage of correct entrances being notably larger than would have 

 been expected according to the law of error. 



Dr. Strong concludes that birds have a sense of smell, which in some 

 species at least is more acute than in man. He agrees with Turner that 

 the development of keen vision in birds is being accompanied by a degenera- 

 tion of the olfactory sense, and further suggests that a mutual relation 

 between the olfactory and visual senses may exist, which makes it very 

 difficult for a bird to react to an olfactory stimulus only. 



The literature of the subject is considered but in the case of published 

 field observations the author says the chances of error in interpretation 

 are so great that they have little value. 



Dr. Strong has made a welcome contribution to a much mooted question, 

 and has started a line of investigation which may be followed with profit 

 by others. With a clear understanding of the difficulties as set forth by 

 him and a constant check on unwarranted inference, it would seem that 

 field observations of real value should be possible. — W. S. 



Lowe's ' A Naturalist on Desert Islands.'' — The author here pre- 

 sents an account of visits to some of the remote and unfamiliar islands of 

 the Caribbean Sea — Swan Island, Blanquilla and The Hermanos. The 

 physical features of the islands, their inhabitants, their geological history 

 and the origin of their fauna and flora are treated entertainingly along 

 with the narrative of the voyage, making an interesting and readable 

 volume. The ornithological results of the cruise have already been pub- 

 lished elsewhere, but many observations on bird-life are given here in a 

 more popular and detailed manner. Among the illustrations are photo- 

 graphs of Boobies and Frigate Birds and several maps.— W. S. ■ 



Lechner's ' Oologia Neerlandica.' — Part I of this work.^ which was 

 announced in the July Auk, is now at hand. It comprises text for sixty- 



1 A Naturalist 1 on Desert Islands 1 By | Percy R. Lowe, B. A., M. B. (Cantab.) 

 1 Member of the British Ornithologists' Union | With thirty-two plates and three 

 maps I Witherby & Co. ! 326 High Holbom, London 1 1911 ■ — 8vo, pp. xii + 300. 

 7s. 6d. net. 



-■ Oologia Neerlandica | Eggs | of | Birds | Breeding in the Netherlands | By | 

 A. A. Van Pelt Lechner | Member of the Board of the " Nederlandsche Ornitho- 

 logische Vereeniging" \ (Netherland Ornithological Society) | With colored plates 

 made direct from specimens | in the author's collection | vignette | The Hague | 

 Martinus Nijhoff | 1911. Small 4°. 250 copies printed of which 100 are in 

 English. Part I, (Sept , 1911) comprises Plates 1-10, 12,13, 15, 16, 20, 23, 25. 

 27-29, 33-35, 37, 39-44, 46. 47. 76, 83, 84. Price £1.10 net. 



