324 



NA TURE 



[February i, ic,oo 



they most concern, we take leave with regret of one of 

 the most attractive little volumes on birds it has been our 

 fortune to peruse. 



Of a very different type is the work standing second 

 on our list, although here, too, we have to call attention 

 to some excellent illustrations of the environment of par- 

 ticular species of birds. Apart from the classified list of 

 species frequenting Rhode Island, the leading idea in 

 Messrs. Howe and Sturtevant's little volume seems to be 

 the peculiar nature of bird migration in this district, much 

 of which takes place to seaward of the island itself. 

 Especially interesting are certain local migratory move- 

 ments, both along the coast and in Narragansett Bay ; 

 foremost among which is the westward migration of 

 white-winged Scoters in May. These birds winter in the 

 neighbourhood of Cape Cod, and during their spring 

 migration fly west, it is said in millions, across Rhode 

 Island, and then shape their course in a north-westerly 

 direction for the great lakes, where they breed. 



Following a list of the nesting times of the various 

 species breeding on the island, the authors give an inter- 

 esting account of "Cormorant Rock," which appears to 

 be the favourite bird-haunt. This is followed by the de- 

 tailed list of species ; the special interest of which can be 

 best appreciated by local observers and students of geo- 

 graphical distribution. In reference to the description 

 of " Cormorant Rock," we may point out to the authors 

 that it is somewhat redundant to speak of the " Island of 

 Rhode Island " ; and that the " mesa top of the rock" is 

 a phrase of which the meaning is not quite as apparent 

 as it might be. 



Of the third nember of the trilogy we cannot at pre- 

 sent speak very iuUy, since the part before us appears to 

 be only a small instalment of what promises to be a vork 

 of some size and importance. Mr. Cory is already well 

 known to bird-lovers by several works devoted to the 

 avifauna of North America and the West Indies ; while 

 to the sportsman his name is familiar as the author of 

 *' Hunting and Fishing in Florida." 



In the present work it appears to be his object to 

 teach the beginner the external anatomy of a bird (if. 

 stich an expression be permissible), and then to lead 

 him on to learn how to distinguish and recognise the 

 various kinds of " water birds " found in eastern North 

 -America. Although using the latter term in a very wide 

 sense, and including under it such diverse forms as Auks, 

 Gulls, Ducks, Herons, and Snipe, his "keys" appear to 

 be carefully drawn up, and to suffice for the identification 

 by an artificial method of the various species inhabiting 

 the area of which the work treats. The illustrations, 

 although some are on an unduly small scale, are for the 

 most part of a high grade of excellence, and serve to 

 elucidate the technical matter of the text. It is, how- 

 ever, distinctly a subject for regret that the author has 

 seen fit to multiply in a most unnecesssary degree the 

 number of "families" of water birds. He divides the 

 Limicola.% for instance, into the Phalaropodidae, Reairvi- 

 rostridae, Scolopacidae^ Charadritdae, Afihriztdae, and 

 Hacmatopodidae^ whereas in the British Museum Cata- 

 logue the whole of these are included in a single 

 family. Moreover, if such divisions were necessary the 

 term Himantopodidae should have been employed 

 instead of Recurvirosfridae, for the Stilts and Avocets. 



Neither is the author quite happy in some of the 

 statements in the Introduction, as, for example, when he 

 speaks of the extinct New Zealand Eagle {Harpagornis) 

 as being the prototype of the " Roc of nursery lore." In 

 all probability the honour of that position belongs to the 

 extinct Malagasy zflpyornis^ and most assuredly the 

 legend does not owe its origin to the "nursery." 



On the whole, however, the work, so far as we can 

 judge at present, appears well adapted for its purpose, 

 and we shall look forward vvith interest to its completion. 



R. L. 

 NO. 1579, VOL. 61] 



THE LONDON UNIVERSITY ELECTION. 

 pVERY graduate of the University of London who 

 *--" has the advancement of learning and the best 

 interests of his University at heart, will give careful con- 

 sideration to the address which has been drawn up by 

 Sir Michael Foster's Election Committee, and the 

 accompanying letter froin Sir Michael Foster himself. 

 These two documents should completely remove the 

 impression that the return of Sir Michael Foster would 

 mean the neglect of the rights and privileges of private 

 students. The position of such students and the system 

 of open examination for them have already been 

 definitely settled by Parliament, and it is improbable that 

 any change will be made no matter which candidate is 

 elected. It is therefore not reasonable to think that the 

 electors will let this question influence their votes. Sir 

 Michael Foster stands both for external and internal 

 students, and not for any particular party or as the 

 champion of any one section of the graduates. .As a man 

 of distinguished eminence, who has shown his regard for 

 the welfare of the University, we claim , for him the 

 suffrages of an intellectual electorate. By returning him 

 to Parliament, not only will the progress of the University 

 be secured, and a member be obtained whose best 

 energies Will be used to further the interests of all 

 branches of learning, but the existence of a University 

 representative will be justified. 



The following correspondence has been sent to the 

 electors : — 



I, New Court, Carey Street, 



Lincoln^ s Inn, Londoti, 



Janiiary 26, 1 900. 



Sir, — It will .coon be the duty of the Members of the C'ln- 

 vocation of the University of London to choose a representative 

 in Parliament in the place of Sir John Lubbock. 



It is now generally admitted that University constituencies 

 should send to Parliament men distinguished in learnine. 

 science, or literature, and qualified therefore to strengthen the 

 Legislature in dealing with those questions which most nearly 

 concern the intellectual interests of the community. This has 

 been recognised of late years in the election of Sir George Stokes, 

 Prof. Jebb, Mr. Lecky and Sir William Anson, in which cases 

 the example set by the University of London in its election of 

 Mr. Lowe and Sir John Lubbock was followed by the older 

 Universities. We hope that the graduates will not now depart 

 from the precedent set on those occasions. 



At the present time, when the reconstruction of the Univer- 

 sity is imminent, it is most important that the representative 

 selected should be a graduate of the highest literary or scientific 

 distinction, able to speak with authority on matters connected 

 with education or research. The new duties which the Univer- 

 sity will have to undertake must raise questions on which the 

 Government and Parliament will look to the representative of 

 the University for guidance ; while the graduates will desire 

 that the claims of the University shall be adequately supported 

 by their member. 



So far as the domestic policy of the University is concerned, 

 it should be borne in mind that this is now definitely and per- 

 manently settled by the Act of Parliament of last Session, which 

 provides guarantees for the maintenance, in unimpaired effi- 

 ciency, of the system of open examination for external students. 

 No interference with this settlement on the part of the Legis- 

 lature or the Government is to be expected or will be required. 



Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B., M.D. (Lond.), Senior Secretary 

 of the Royal Society, and now President of the British Associa- 

 tion, has, at our earnest request, consented to be nominated for the 

 vacant seat. He holds, in the estimation of the public, as well 

 as in that of scientific men, such a distinguished position— not 

 only among the graduates of the University, but among the 

 leaders of scientific thought in Europe^that it is altogether un- 

 necessary for us to dwell on his qualifications in this respect. 

 We may say, however, without fear of contradiction, that there 

 is no one whose opinion on questions affecting scientific edu- 

 cation and research or the study of medicine would have greater 

 weight in the House of Commons. His long .icademical ex- 

 perience, first at University College, London, and subsequently 

 at Cambridge, together with his full knowledge of University 



