BihliograpJncal Notices, 395 



beginning to lengtlien and deepen in colour at a point about 

 halfway from the extremity until they form a large black 

 terminal tuft or pencil, having a variable length, bat often 

 reaching 100 mm. Feet often, but variably, white, either 

 partially or wholly. In winter the white of the under surface 

 may extend upwards, according to locality, until the animal 

 becomes completely white or white washed with yellow, the 

 black tuft of the tail alone retaining its dark colour. The 

 margins of the ears, being amongst the tirst to whiten, show 

 this colour to a variable extent in many specimens otherwise 

 apparently in full summer coat; for a similar reason the feet 

 may be partially white at all seasons of the year. 



The average dimensions (in millimetres) of a series are 

 (approximately) : — 



Skin. Skull. 



Head and Hind Greatest Basal Palatal Zygomatic 



body. Tail. foot. Ear. length, lenj^tli. length, breadth. 



Males .. 2(39 111 48 22 51 47 30 22 



Females. 244 90 42 20 46 42 25 19 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Mostly Mammals. By R. Lydekker. Pp. 383 ; 16 plates. 

 London : Hutchinson & Co. 1903. 



To a very large number of readers the essays in this volume will be 

 right heartily welcomed as old friends finally uuited under peculiarly 

 happy circumstances. By a careful process of gleaning from the 

 pages of 'Knowledge/ 'Nature,' 'The Tield,' and 'The Asian,' 

 Mr. Lydekker has produced a really delightful volume. Full of 

 matter for thoughtful consideration, it will be cherished as guide, 

 philosopher, and friend by those who live in the country, or are 

 called away into wild places far from the haunts of men, where 

 books are not, save those that are carried for their own intrinsic 

 worth. 



Perhaps the most fascinating chapters in the volume are those 

 referring to the coloration of animals. Save the chapter on 

 cowrie-shells, mammals only are dealt with under this head, but, as 

 many will know already, these chapters are strikingly original and 

 suggestive. 



To the traveller the chapters on " Celebes : a Problem in Distri- 

 bution " and " Deserts and their Inhabitants " will serve as incen- 

 tives to observation, no less than those on coloration ; whilst the 



