352 Recently published Ornitholoyicul Worhs. [Ibis^ 



great assistauce^ both to the tyro as well as to the specialist, 

 in the identification of unknown birds, though, of course, 

 such aids must l)e used with caution, as is clearly explained 

 in the introductory note. The nomenclature and synonymy 

 is that of the ' Handlist of British Birds, ^ published by 

 four out of the six authors of the present work in 1912, 

 with sucii emendations as iiuve come to light siuce. For this 

 portion of the work and the keys Dr. Hartert is primarily 

 responsible. 



The descriptions are very detailed, and the sequence and 

 moult of plumage from nestling to adult are given at length. 

 These are the province of Mr. Witherby and Miss Jackson, 

 the last-named being specially concerned with the Ducks 

 and Waders. 



Two unusual sections are those dealing with the characters 

 of the allied subspecific forms inhabiting other portions of 

 the Palsearctic region and the field-characters, in which 

 hints are given for distinguishing birds in their native 

 haunts. The former subject is dealt with by Dr. Hartert, 

 the latter by Mr. Oldham, who also writes on the fiight, 

 notes, and social habits. 



Nesting- and food-habits form separate sections and 

 devolve on Mr. Jourdain, while migration falls to 

 Mr. Ticehurst. 



The scheme, therefore, is essentially a practical and utili- 

 tarian one, and there is little room fox- literary grace or 

 polish ; the sentences are clipped and shortened in every 

 possible way. 



In the present part is one coloure'd plate illustrating the 

 juvenile plumage of some of the Finch family, and another 

 in black and white, showing the gradual loss of the feathers 

 on the '' face "' of the Rook. There are also a large number 

 of text-figures of heads, feet and wings to assist in identi- 

 fication. These are all excellent and most useful. We 

 would make one criticism in regard to the top figure on 

 p. xiv, which illustrates the method of measuring the bill 

 from its tip to the " base of the skull/' This latter phrase 

 appears to us very misleading. The base of the skull is 



