1922.] Recently jjiiblished Ornithological Works. 579 



has been able to weave a wonderfully complete accouut of 

 the habits of the Gulls of North America. He himself has 

 also travelled widely over this vast area^ aud many of the 

 recorded observations and the photographs are contributed 

 by himself. Under each bird are paragraphs on the nesting- 

 habits, eggs^ habits of young, plumages, food, general 

 behaviour, voice, food and distribution, and the whole forms 

 a mine of information about the activities of these birds 

 from every point of view. 



There are a large number of photographs of nests and 

 eggs and of characteristic scenes, and a large proportion of 

 these were taken by Mr. Bent himself. The eggs of all the 

 species are illustrated by a fine series of coloured plates, 

 apparently prepared and photographed direct from the eggs 

 selected from the collection of the United States National 

 Museum; they are very satisfactory, except that the shadow- 

 shading has rather an artificial appearance. 



Chance on the Cuckoo. 



[The Cuckoo's Secret. By Edgar Chance, M.B.O.U. Pp. xiv & 239 . 

 9 photos J 2 plans. London (Sedgwicli aud Jackson), 1922. 8vo. 

 Price 7s. Gc?.] 



In this little book the author gives us the result of several 

 years' observation on the manner in which au individual 

 Cuckoo deposited its eggs in the foster-parent's nest. Too 

 high praise can hardly be given to the patient and methodical 

 way in which liis observations were carried out, whilst the 

 valuable information so obtained has been recorded in an 

 admirable manner, the author showing how an oologist can 

 work in a scientific manner and for a scientific purpot^e. It 

 is, perhaps, only when lie generalizes on the result of his 

 work that one feels liis deductions are drawn from tiic acts 

 of a single Cuckoo, which has laid its eggs under more or 

 less artificial conditions. Even, however, if the author's 

 new facts are not all quite so new to others as they were to 

 himself, the net result is a very interesting addition to our 

 knowledge of the domestic economy of the Cuckoo and a 

 book Avhich will interest anyone who reads it. 



9 p >) 



