■^°[- ^^- ] Reviews. 1 45 



The book is finely printed, and is creditable alike to author and 

 publishers. It is one of the best examples of a class of work which 

 is becoming increasingly popular in Great Britain. 



The author states in his preface that the work represents an 

 attempt to give an historical and distributional account of the 

 vertebrate inhabitants of Cheshire. The natural boundary of the 

 county encloses many square miles of marsh land politically 

 belonging to another county, and the sea area is extended beyond 

 the actual territorial waters. The author has wisely chosen geo- 

 graphical rather than political boundaries. Cheshire is a maritime 

 county in the north-west of England, comprising about 1,028 square 

 miles ; and four-fifths of the total surface is occupied by a fertile 

 plain, of a slightly undulating character. There is a tract of high 

 land, however, and the country is blessed with pleasant streams 

 and small lakes or meres. Evidently a good observing ground for 

 the ornithologist. 



About two-thirds of the volume is devoted to bird-life. Two 

 hundred and thirty-one species are said to occur, which, compared 

 with other English counties, is poor. Of special interest are the 

 author's remarks on bird protection'. Despite the fact that the 

 existing regulations are violated by game preservers and game- 

 keepers, the acts and orders are fortunately contributing to an 

 increase in the numbers of certain species. The section dealing 

 with migration makes interesting reading, even for an Australian 

 ornithologist. To the British student of bird-life the whole work 

 should prove invaluable. 



Bird Observers^ Club. 



The June meeting of the Club was held at the residence of Mr. D. Le 

 Souef, C.M.Z.S., Royal Park. Dr. Chas. Ryan and Mr. Le Souef were 

 joint hosts, and at their invitation about 15 members assembled for 

 dinner. At the meeting Mr. Le Souef presided. Mr. H. W. Wilson 

 reported that matters in connection with the Gould League of Bird 

 Lovers were progressing favourably. The hon. secretary called 

 attention to the action taken in England regarding bird protection 

 and the plume trade. Messrs. Le Souef, Mattingley, and Nicholls 

 and Dr. Bryant took part in the discussion which followed. It was 

 suggested that one way of checking the plume trade would be by 

 making it an offence to wear the plumes of protected birds. Dr. 

 Bryant said that the Game Association of Victoria was in sympathy 

 with the bird protection movement, and that sportsmen who offended 

 against the game laws were made to regret it if discovered. It was 

 resolved tliat Messrs. A. H. E. Mattingley, A. J. Campbell, and the hon. 

 secretary form a sub-committee to deal with the matter and consult 

 with Major Semmens. The hon. secretary was instructed to inform 

 the Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher") that the club supported the action 

 being taken by the British authorities. After the formal business 

 had been disposed of, the remainder of the evening was devoted to 

 inspecting photographs of Australian birds exhibited by members. 

 Nearly 200 prints were displayed, the majority by Mr. A. H. E. 

 Mattingley. Other exliibitors were Messrs. D. Le Souef, A. J. Camp- 



