August 1, 1899.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



183 



more than is usually the case, the object being to render 

 it possible, at some future time, to amalgamate the various 

 subject-matter indexes into one general index ; (3) a si/stematized 

 coUection of facts, grouped with reference to their relation 

 to each other. The aim of the whole is to enable any 

 person engaged in scientific research to find the information he 

 seeks with a minimum expenditure of time. The information 

 does not extend to science in general, but is confined to Climate 

 and " Baric condition." 



Rousdoit Ohservatorij, Devon ; Variable Star Notes. No. i : 

 R Cyt/ii! and x Cygni. As is well known, Sir C. E. Peek makes 

 the observation of variable stars his speciality, and in this, the 

 fourth issue from his Observatory in Devonshire, he gives the 

 observations and curves of R and \ Cygni. The inspection of 

 the curves brings to light the remarkable coincidence — it can be 

 no more — that the light variations of the two stars seem 

 complementary. The mean curve of the two stars indeed would 

 be very nearly a straight line. 



Curious E/>itaj]hs. Compiled and edited, with notes, by 

 William Andrews. (Andrews & Co.) 7s. fid. This is a reprint, 

 with some important additions, of the interesting collection of 

 epitaphs first published by Mr. Andrews some years since. In 

 terseness, wit, and perspicuity, it is hard to beat Jerrold's 

 anticipatory epitaph on Charles Knight, the distinguished 

 historian : Good Knight. 



ColerkUje's Table Talk. The Bibelots. Vol. I. Edited by 

 J. Potter Briscoe. (Gay & Bird.) 2s. 6d. We do not recall a 

 more elegant and altogether dainty little volume. Beautiful 

 types and good paper, embraced in embossed calf, with gilt 

 edges, make up an exquisite possession for the book lover. 



The Internutioiml Director// of Booksellers and Bibliophile's 

 Manual, 1899. Edited by James Clegg. (Rochdale : Aldine 

 Press.) 6s. This unique compilation should bring the book- 

 buyer and the bookseller into touch all round the world, seeing 

 that the editor has penetrated to the most remote districts, 

 and Trinidad is put into communication with Tonquin or 

 Rhodesia. An invaluable book of reference. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



A Glossary of Popular, Local, and Old-fashioned Names of Birds. 

 By Chas. Louis Hett. (Simpkin.) 6d. 



Insects : Their Structure and Life. By Geo. H. Carpenter. 

 (Dent.) 43. 6d. net. 



The Cambridge Natural History. — Insects. Part II. By David 

 Sharp, M.A. (Macmillan.) Illustrated. 17s. net. 



The Soluble Ferments and Fermentation. By J. Keynolds Green, 

 P.E.s. (Cambridge University Press.) 123. 



Phi/sics : Experimental and Theoretical. By B. H. Jude, M.A. , 

 D.SC. (Chapman & HaU.) 12s. 6d. net. 



Curiosities of Light and Sight. By Shelford Bidwell, f.e.s. 

 (Sonnenschein ) Illustrated. 2s. 6d. 



Darwinism and LamarcJcism Old and New. By Frederick 

 WoUaston Hutton, f.e.s. (Duckworth.) Ss. 6d. 



Rambles with Nature Students. By Mrs. Brightwen, f.b s. 

 (Religious Tract Society.) Illustrated. 



The Modern Chess Primer. By Rev. E. E. Cunuiugton, M.A. 

 (Routledge.) ,28. 



Anatomical' Diagrams for Art Students. By James M. Dunlop. 

 (G. Bell k Sons.) 6s. net. 



Report of Proceedings of the Aluseams Association. Edited by 

 Herbert Bolton. (Dulau.) 



Impressions of America. By T. C. Porter. (Pearson.) lOs. 6d. 



Sacferii : Especially as related to Economy, Industrial Processes, 

 and Health. By Geo. Newman, (Murray.) Illustrated. 63. 



The Commonwealth of the Body. By G. A. Hawkins-Ambler. 

 (Scientific Press, Limited.) Is. 6d. 



Chats about the Microscope. By Henry C. Shelley. (Scientific 

 Press, Limited.) 2s. 



Kinetic Theory of Oases. By S. H. Burbury, F E.d. (Cambridge 

 University Press.) Ss. 



The Indian Eclipse, 189S. Edited by E. Walter Mamider, F.E.A.s. 

 (Britisli Astronomical Association.) 5s. 



The Principles of Mechanics. By Herbert Robsou. (Tlie Scientific 

 Press.) 2s. 6d. 



The Studio for July. Is. 



iTild Life in Hampshire Highlands. By George A. B. Dewar. 

 (J. M. Dent & Co.) lUustrated. 73. 6d. net. 



The Birds of Breconshire. By E. Cambridge Phillips. (Brecon : 

 Edwin Davies.) 73. Gd. 



TWO MONTHS ON THE GUADALQUIVER. 



By Harry F. Witherby, f.z.s., si.b.o.u. 

 III.— REEDS AND RUSHES. 



OU R second encampment in the marismns was 

 surrounded by somewhat different country from 

 that described in Knowledge, for March, 1890. 

 Instead of scanty verdure, dry mud and shallow 

 lucias, we had stretches of marshy land covered 

 with fairly luxuriant grass, and great lakes, shallow but 

 deeper than bicias, and thickly overgrown with rushes. 

 This country, separated from the other only by the river, 

 was inhabited by quite a different set of birds — a fact 

 made more apparent when we re-visited the place later 

 on after the birds had commenced to breed. 



Instead of the larks and stone curlews of the dry plains, 

 and the flamingoes and migrant waders of the lucias, on 

 the borders of these rush-grown lakes were hundreds of 

 stilts and redshanks, while the lakes themselves were 

 inhabited by many colonies of whiskered terns f and black 

 terns, t Many other interesting birds had also located 

 themselves here and there in reedy dykes and on patches 

 of raised and dry ground. 



The first of these lakes we visited extended over several 

 square miles, and was completely overgrown with rushes ; 

 at a distance it looked like a great field of deep waving 

 green, over which flitted and hovered in little companies 

 thousands of graceful marsh terns, appearing sometimes 

 dark and sometimes bright as they twisted and turned in 

 the sunlight. 



We hastened through the marshy ground, disturbing as 

 we did so stilts and redshanks, which flew round us uttering 

 loud alarm notes. Soon we were brushing aside the rushes, 

 which were shoulder high, and wading up to our knees, 

 and often to our waists, through the tepid water. 



F18. 1. — Floating Nest of Whiskered Tern. 



We came upon a colony of terns ; some rose from their 

 nests and flew round us much agitated ; others, their nests 

 not yet completed, flitted past with mouths full of grass ; 

 while, again, some, their beaks at right angles, hovered 

 over the water searching for prey, which they dashed 

 down upon with a" graceful plunge, captured, and had 

 eaten almost before the water had run off their sharp 

 wings and elegant body in a glittering spray. 



* Totanas calidris. f Hydrochelidon hybrida. 



nigra. 



