336 Bihllo(jrap}iicid Xotices. 



of Portuguese descent, who wrote an excellent work on Angola and 

 the Congo, and who died on the first visit of the pair to Delagoa Bay, 

 whither they had gone with expressly scientific aims. Notwith- 

 standing its sad associations Mrs. Monteiro speaks well of this port, 

 which she calls " the finest natural harbour of South Africa ; " 

 adding that the fever and ague are much over-rated or largely due 

 to indiscretions in eating and drinking : while she makes fuu of her 

 troubles with the lazy, drunken, thievish Kafir servants, and even 

 extracts some amusement from the insect plagues, which are the 

 worst of all and omnipresent. Many practical hints are given 

 respecting the killing, baffling, or circumventing these last nuisances ; 

 and the experiences of the Papalata or " collecting lady ' are told 

 with a brightness of style which in noway detracts from their 

 scientific value. Each chapter is illustrated with charming 

 vignettes by A. B. and E. C. AVoodward, after original sketches by 

 the author ; among the best being Breviceps oiossambicii.'s devouring 

 ants, and Solpuga fatalis in ambush, waiting for his antagonist — a 

 weird picture. From first to last this work maintains its interest, 

 and there is not a suspicion of padding about it. 



La Flame des Oiseau.v : histoire naturelle et Industrie. Par Lackoix- 

 Danliard. — Vamatenr d'Oiseau.v de Voliere. Avec 51 Figures 

 dessinees d'apres Xature. Pai- IIexri Mokeau. BaiUiere et fils : 

 Paris, 1891. 



The plan of the first work is to give a sketch of the birds which 

 yield feathers or down iiseful to man, the history of the prepa- 

 ration of these productions, the markets for them, and their 

 commercial imjiortance. On these or similar lines it is easy 

 to compile a loose treatise on birds in general, especially on those 

 of which woodcuts are available, many of them being very old 

 acquaintances. Accuracy is not a distinguishing characteristic; for 

 instance, in fig. 42, which, we are expressly told, is a representation 

 of one of the ostrich-parks in Algeria, the birds have three well- 

 developed toes on ea(;h foot, and in fig. 41 the ostrich pursued by a 

 mounted Arab is similarly gifted. The letterpress has no scientific 

 value, but as a book for young people who wish to improve their 

 knowledge of French it can be recommended, as being more inter- 

 esting than the works usually put into their hands. 



The second work is far superior to the preceding as regards tho 

 letterpress, for the author is evidently no mere compiler, but has 

 a practical acquaintance with cage-birds. For young students of 

 French this book has the same advantages as the former, but 

 it is more " serious,"' and consequently less entertaining, though of 

 greater practical utility. 



