February, 1913. 



KNOWLEDGE. 



79 



Wild Life. — Edited by Douglas English. Volume I, 

 Number 1. 64 pages. Numerous illustrations. 12|-in. X9|-in. 



(The "Wild Life" Publishing Co. Price to subscribers, 17/6 

 for six months, 30/- for twelve.) 



Wild Life is a new illustrated monthly magazine of which 

 the letterpress is to be based solely on first-hand observation, 

 and the illustrations are to be from photographs alone. It is 

 the outcome of the widely-spreading cult of Nature photo- 

 graphy, and. more immediately, of the exhibition of the work 

 of the Zoological Photographic Club, held at the offices of the 

 Zoological Society last summer. The first number now before 

 us is most excellent, and it is probable that the future ones 

 will be even better ; for an editor, as he proceeds, becomes 

 more and more critical with regard to the perfection of the 



photographs which he chooses, and the way in which they 

 are reproduced. Mr. Farren's photographs and account of the 

 nesting Egrets, which flourish not more than a three-days' 

 journey from London, are delightful. We reproduce, by per- 

 mission, one of the photographs taken by Mr. Douglas English 

 to accompany his remarks on " The Wild Cat" (see Figure 70). 

 Dr. Francis Ward's observations and pictures illustrating 

 " Photography under Water " are very interesting, and there 

 is much good work by other well-known photographers. Two 

 of Mr. R. B. Lodge's " Eagles" are noteworthy ; the third is 

 too obviously touched up, and his Griffon Vultures are not 

 successful. The carrying of the letterpress right across the 

 wide page gives a certain style to the publication, but the lines 

 are too long for easy reading. Wild Life marks an epoch 

 in the modern studv of Nature, and we wish it every success. 



W. M. W. 



■ 







a pho'i'gra; k 



Figure 70. The Wild Cat. 

 (From "Wild Life" by the courtesy of the Editor.) 



by Douglas English. 



NOTICES. 



BIRDS IN AVIARIES.— Those who are interested in the 

 acclimatization of foreign birds wiil find a good deal of 

 interesting matter in Mr. Wesley T. Page's ' Aviaries, and 

 Aviary Life," in which many of the birds, with nests which 

 have been built in this country, are illustrated. It is published 

 by the Avian Press, Ashbourne. 



FORMALIN AS AN INSECTICIDE. — Experiments 

 have been made at University College, Cork, to determine the 

 insecticidal power of formaldehyde. Various strengths from 

 •01 to 2 per cent, were used, but the results, we learn from 

 The Irish Naturalist, show that any efficacy which formalin 

 might possess as an insecticide is more than counterbalanced 

 by its injurious action on the plant. 



EGG OF THE GREAT AUK.— Mr. Thomas Parkin con- 

 tributes to British Birds for January an account of the very 

 finely marked egg of the Great Auk, which was sold at 

 Stevens's, on November 21st, 1912, for two hundred and 



twenty guineas, to Messrs. Rowland Ward, Ltd. It was the 

 property of Mr. W. Sheppard, of Bristol, in 1807, and 

 purchased by Mr. Shirley, of Ettington, about 1820. It was 

 put up for auction in 1910, when Mr. E. L. N. Armbrecht 

 bought it for £262 10s. 



PAUL RAINEY'S EXPEDITION TO SOUTH 

 AFRICA. — The most remarkable set of moving pictures 

 obtained on Mr. Paul Rainey's expedition are now on view 

 at the Holborn Empire, in London, and cannot fail to interest 

 anyone who takes the trouble to go and see them. The 

 naturalist would, of course, be most pleased with the striking 

 films obtained near a water hole, which show several 

 rhinoceroses, two giraffes, a family of elephants, numerous 

 deer, monkeys, and many birds. Sportsmen would appreciate 

 the hunting of cheetahs and lions by means of dogs, and it 

 must be added that Mr. Reginald Carrington's descriptive 

 lecture is most lucid and explanatory. 



