466 Bthliographical Notices. 



they should find all they need to upset some of the fallacies that 

 form the basis of many of their proposed remedies for the regenera- 

 tion of mankind. 



A work like the present has long been needed, but there are few 

 who would have had the courage to undertake its preparation, and 

 certainly no one could have achieved a more conspicuous success in 

 the fulfilment of so onerous a task. W. P. P. 



A Book of Birds. By W. P. PrcRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. With 30 

 full-page coloured Plates and many Illustrations in the Text. 

 London : Sidney Appleton, 1908. Sm. 4to, Pp. viii, 155. 

 (Gs. net.) 



This is the third volume of Sidney Appleton's ' Popular ISTatural 

 History Books,' of which two volumes on British Flowering Plants 

 and on Mammals of the World, both by W. F. Kirby, have appeared ; 

 and a volume on Minerals, by Leonard J. Spencer, is promised 

 shortly. 



Mr. Pyeraft is well known as an authority on the anatomy and 

 structure of birds, and has given us in his introductory chapter of 

 27 pages a very useful outline of this branch of the subject, with 

 numerous illustrations. The remaining 16 chapters contain a 

 popular account of the more interesting groups of birds, with special 

 reference to the species figured. The coloured plates represent from 

 four to eleven species each, and most of the figures are well 

 executed and easily recognizable ; and in some cases the eggs are 

 also figured. It is to be regretted that Mr. Pyeraft had not more 

 space at his disposal, that he might have given at least a passing 

 reference to some of the more interesting families not represented 

 on the plates. Still he has done his best with his materials, and 

 has given a good deal of general information, some of which may be 

 new to many, if not most, of his readers. He feels very strongly 

 on the subject of bird-destruction, and he never loses an oppor- 

 tunity of protesting against it — as, for instance, on p. 46, where we 

 read of " the ghastlj' trophies which thoughtless women wear in 

 their hats " (egret-feathers), and lower down on the same page, 

 " There was a time when the Bittern was to be met with commonly 

 in Great Britain, but drainage and that pest the ' collector ' have 

 done their work, so that at most but a few stragglers are now to be 

 met with in our islands, and these are always promptly shot down." 

 It is much to be regretted that it is still necessary to protest against 

 the destruction of birds, ancient monuments, <fec., even in England. 



The book concludes with a good general Index. 



Mr. Pycraft's book may be recommended to those who wish for 

 an accurate and fairly comprehensive introduction to the study of 

 birds. 



