Opinions on the "Avifauna of British Inc. 



c/ India of March i 

 Since Jerdon wrote hi 

 ambition to give to the world, in 

 based on a more natural arra? 

 : in India during the 



.\ Feathers," at o: 



work, but, having liberally given his collection to t 

 no longer possible. Murray, an author of some reptr 

 is the only known naturalist who has ventured to publish work 

 and botany, also with such success that a copy of 1 



had. The first part of his great work has just been .] the patient labour 



devoted to the work is apparent on < ,,f the hundred pnp 



In order to popularize ornithology, woodcuts are given ot >ecies typi< 



the genus, and also of species not well known. The lithographs ^ r 'g'v g rjf 



Mintern Brothers deserve credit for their work. The book is certainly a n 

 bhould be, well written, admirably arranged, free from un: repetition 



quotations. It contains ample descriptions of plumage, habits, distribution and nidifu 

 The arrangement of the text is also good. The article on each species is c> 

 six parts - I. Synonomy, 2. Description. 3. Habitat and Distribution. 4. Oi 

 5. Habits ; and lastly, Modification, as far as the materials within his reach would 

 him. The author deserves all the encouragement possible from scientists, and it 

 behoves the Government, too, to help an undertaking which must have cost the author 

 immense labour, besides a large expenditure. To say the least, there is no work on 

 Indian ornithology which can be compared with the work now before the public. 

 Mr. Murray has laid all ornithologists under obligations to him. To any one taking up 

 the study of ornithology the work is to be recommended, and it is to be hoped that it 

 will receive from Indian ornithologists the support it so emphatically deserves. 



The third part of this work one of the most important and valuable contributor 

 the scientific survey and record of that vast multitude of winged creatures which 

 demand our attention, and in which many take more than an intelligent interest has 

 just been issued and completes the first volume. To how many more volumes the work 

 is to be extended it is not known, but all interested in the Ornithology of the Indian Empire 

 and especially the student will find it a magazine of knowledge immensely simplified 

 by the beautiful coloured illustrations executed by Mintern Brothers of Loml< 

 numerous woodcuts which enrich the pages. The work, when completed, will decidedly 

 be an addition to our standard works in Natural History, and cannot -ily valued. 



Its character, scope, and purpose mark it as one which should be in every public liorary, 

 large or small, Indian or Continental. Mr. Murray is certainly to be congratulated on 

 chievements thus for. Bombay Gazette, qth Jan. fSS 

 PRICK. Part III., Rs. 8; Vol. I., completa, Rs. 20; covers for Vol. L, R 



INDIAX BIRDS; OR THE AVIFAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA AND ' 

 BY JAMES A MURRAY, VOL. II., PART I. 



As promised, the author of this most important work to ornithologists! 



his number the Preface and Introduction to Vol. I- The nunv 



is now 596, and at the rate the Education Society's i urning out th< 



ornithologists may expect to have the complete book in a few months. In the p- 

 number there are seven full-page plates, three of which are coloured lithographs and the 

 remainder uncoloured, one of which latter illustrates the introduction. Too much cannot 

 .id of the introduction, except that Mr. Murray has in a most happy manner 

 condensed the whole of the subject-matter in twenty. four closely printed pages, wh 

 the same time nothing is omitted which, an ornithologist would wish to learn. Shortly, 

 it contains an account of the external and internal anatomy of bird ("the 



muscular system, the osseous system, the nervous system, the tegumentary organs and 

 of motion ; also of the habits of birds and their migration. A good account is also 

 given of the writers on Indian Ornithology since the year 1832. The late Dr. Jerdon, Allan 

 Hume, Blanford, Theobald, Ball, Brooks, Sinclair, the Collector of Colaba, and Davi 

 of Khandeish, are all mentioned, but himself Mr. Murray hasv tly left out. 



ind" and I -ontnbutions to scientific period 



'bough in the references they naturally fii 

 further promise in his introduction that 

 Ornithology of India will r thatfuf; 



irch far and wide, and consult large libraries of bo- 



idy recorded, but in 'using this work will find it an un; 

 them in adding to the pr< r.ulation of facts much which 



Ion and unknow 



; lie continuation 



will serve as a very r. 



now the pi 



