Vol. IX. 

 igio 



I From Magazines^ &€» 259 



places regularly visited by the birds. To each peg was tied a 

 noose made of a narrow strip of green flax leaf. Many birds 

 were captured by these methods, and the old-time Maori was 

 kept well supplied with this delicacy. 



" Mr Matthews confirms the statements of other correspondents 

 that some of the Godwits miss the annual migration. He says 

 that small flocks may be seen on the beaches all through the 

 winter. The Maoris gave Godwits the general name of'kuaka,' 

 which is commonly used by Europeans in the Auckland province ; 

 but they divided them into varieties, according to the difference 

 in the plumage. There were the ' kura,' with a red breast ; 

 the ' karoro,' grey, with a lighter or mottled breast ; and the 

 ' ra-kakao,' or ' kakao,' a darker grey, smaller size, and usually 

 in very poor condition. It is somewhat strange, Mr. Matthews 

 adds, that after the birds settle on a beach the ' kakao ' occupy 

 positions on the outside and flanks of the main flock." 



Reviews. 



["The Home Life of the Golden Eagle." Photographed and described by H. B. 

 Macpherson. Witherby and Co. Crown 4to, pp, 45 and 32 plates. 5s. net. ] 



It is difficult to give too much praise to the perseverance 

 shown by Mr, H. B. Macpherson, as portrayed in his most 

 interesting work, " The Home Life of the Golden Eagle," and 

 not only are the different phases of the home life of this noble 

 bird faithfully portrayed in exquisite photographs, but much 

 information gained that could not have been learnt in any other 

 way, and it must have given the author much pleasure watching 

 these shy birds at such close quarters, and quite made up for 

 the cold waiting in damp, cramped quarters. 



The way the parent birds pluck their prey and divide it 

 before giving it to their young is very interesting. It must 

 have been a keen disappointment to have missed seeing what 

 became of the other young one, as it is still a much debated 

 point how some of the young disappear. The reproductions of 

 the photographs could not be improved upon, and are certainly 

 an object lesson as to how this work can be done, and we 

 strongly recommend this work to our readers, especially as the 

 Golden Eagle is a prototype of the Wedge-tailed Eagle or 

 Eagle-Hawk {Uroaetiis audax) of Australia. — D. Le S. 



[Egyptian Birds. Painted and Described. By Charles Whymper. Adam and 

 Charles Black, London. 20s. net.] 



The author of this handsome and interesting volume of bird 

 lore is well and favourably known as an ornithological artist, 

 and his reputation will not suffer by the present production. 

 " Egyptian Birds," although it has no claim to scientific notice, 

 should serve as a useful guide to bird-lovers who are fortunate 



