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Transactions of the London Naturai History Society for the 
year 1916. London, 1917. 8vo. Price 3s. 
WE are glad to see that Ornithology is well represented in 
this year’s Transactions. There is an excellent photograph 
by Mr. P. J. Hanson of a Norfolk nest of Montagu’s Harrier, 
taken in 1899, and, in addition to the Report of the Research 
Committee fer 1916, no fewer than three papers are 
concerned with Ornithology. Mr. F. J. Stubbs contributes an 
article on “‘ The London Gulls,” in which he shows that pre- 
viously to the winter of 1894-95 they were only known as rare 
stragglers, with the exception of the winters of 1887-8 and — 
1892-3, when some numbers appeared. Mr. J. A. Simes’s 
paper on “ Aspects of Bird Life in Europe,” though interesting — 
and showing signs of originality in thought, nevertheless 
betrays entire ignorance of the work of scientific workers of 
late years. Dr. Sharpe’s views of the division of the genus 
Garrulus as enunciated in 1877 are somewhat out of date 
at the present time, and cannot be said to represent the 
views of medern Ornithologists. The suggestions with regard 
to the Russet Wheatear and Spanish Sparrow are also quite ~ 
untenable. A new departure, which should prove useful, is 
the “ Report on the Birds of Epping Forest for 1916,” as the — 
list in Mr. Buxton’s Guide was first published in 1884, and the 
status of many species has undergone considerable alteration 
since that time. We are glad to learn that the Wanstead — 
Park Heronry contained seventy-two nests in 1916, and think 
it probable that the presence of large numbers of Jays is 
detrimental to the smaller passerine birds, as suggested in ~ 
the Report. F. C. R. JOURDAIN. © 
