Recently pitblished Ornithological IVorks. G81 



is particularly valuable where it discusses tlie egg-cliaracters 

 of a Family as a whole ; for instance, where the Falconidte 

 are divided into three groups in that respect. It must not 

 be forgotten that the text refers to the Netherlands, other- 

 M^ise we might demur to the Grasshopper Warbler's breeding 

 at times in grain and clover fields, or to the omission of 

 rocks in the case of the nesting sites of the Buzzard, while 

 we are also startled by the statement that sharp objects 

 are put into the hole among young Wrynecks, apparently 

 by the parent bird. 



These two parts are devoted to various species of Passeres, 

 to the Picarian and Raptorial Birds, Owls and Pigeons, 

 while the Black Grouse and the Little Bittern shew the 

 transition to other Families. 



110. IVullaston on Papuasia. 



[Pygmies and Papuans. The Stone Age to-day in Dutch New Guinea. 

 By A. F. R. Wollaston. Loudon: Smith & Elder, 1012; pp. i.-xxiv, 

 1-345, mauy illustrations, col. and black, and two maps.] 



It is somewhat difficult to write a notice of Air. Wollaston's 

 book for two reasons. Firstly, though, as we are told in the 

 prefiice, it can hardly be considered otiier than an official 

 account of the B.O.U. Expedition to Dutch New Guinea, 

 sanctioned by our own Committee, we certainly expected a 

 full and formal Report to have been made to the Union on 

 the results, and especially on the Birds, which are our peculiar 

 province. Secondly, the book, which contains matter of the 

 greatest interest and adventures very well told by the author 

 is on the whole a work on Ethnology, with important Appen- 

 dices on a new race of Pygmies by Dr. H addon, and on 

 languages by Mr. S. H. Ray. In fact, although Mr. Wollas- 

 ton's pleasantly written story of the Expedition will be more 

 interesting to the public than the more formal Report of 

 tlie Leader, we hope that Mr. Goodfellow's account may also 

 be forthcoming, and, excellently as Mr. Ogilvie-Grant has 

 described the species of birds procured, fuller information 

 may enable him or others to write at greater length the life- 

 bistory of the birds of Dutch New Guinea. 



