Vol. VIII.' 



1909 



Review. 287 



execution of a designing and crafty criminal. Within ten minutes the 

 performance was repeated for the third time, and then either the supply of 

 snakes ran out or the bird was satisfied. He shrewdly glanced this way 

 and that, craning and twisting his neck, and seeming to adjust the lenses of 

 his eyes for near and distant observation. No movement among the leaves 

 seemed to escape him. Two yards and a half or perhaps three yards of 

 live snakes constituted a repast. At any rate, after twenty minutes' passive 

 watchfulness, he sailed up over the trees and away in the direction of his 

 home in the socialistic community of the Shining Calornis." 



Many of Mr. Banfield's observations are extremely interesting. 

 Instances — (i.) He proves that the Shining StarHng [Calornis) is a 

 great plant-distributer. It brings all sorts of seeds and berries 

 from afar to its " nestful tree," and from the ground below there 

 springs quite a nursery of strange plants. (2.) The White Nutmeg- 

 Pigeon {Myristicivora spilorrhoa), too, is a plant-distributer. 

 Besides the wild nutmeg [Myristica insipida), on which it chiefly 

 lives, it carries other nuts and seeds — quandong, palm, native 

 cabbage [Sccevola), Burdekin plum, &c. (3.) On one of the islets, 

 where sea-birds were used to breeding upon the ground, goats had 

 been introduced, which interfered much with the l^rooding birds. 

 To overcome the difficulty the birds (Terns) placed their nests upon 

 bushes or dwarf trees. 



Many pretty bird homes are described. For instance : — A White 

 Nutmeg-Pigeon brooding on her nest, at the base of an orchid 

 {Dendrohmm), fantastically shaded with plumes of the rich old- 

 gold blooms. Another beautiful picture — a set of pale greenish- 

 blue eggs of the Reef-Heron {Demicgretta), seen sheltered by the 

 same kind of plant dressed in golden flowers. 



The only technical portion of the author's bird chapter is a 

 census of 130 birds found frequenting his island. The census 

 might, the author concludes, be raised to about 150 species were he 

 to shoot birds for identification, but to destroy beautiful bird-life 

 forms no part of Mr. Banfield's " religion," all his observations 

 having been carried on by the aid of a good telescope and pair of 

 field-glasses. This immunity from harm has caused many birds to 

 come about his dwelling, and even to remain on a fence-post when 

 he opens and shuts the gate. It perhaps should be mentioned here 

 that Dunk Island and two adjacent islands have been proclaimed a 

 sanctuary for birds, with Mr. Banfield as honorary protector. 



No nature-lover can afford to be without this bulky, well written, 

 and fascinating book, which can be obtained for the reasonable sum 

 of eighteen shillings only. 



Publications Received. 



Auk, The, XXIII., No. 3 ; XXV., Nos. 2, 3, 4 ; XXVI., No. i. 



Australian Naturalist, The, I., Parts 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14. 

 Avicultural Magazine, The, IV., Nos. 2, 7, 8, 9 ; VI., Nos. 6-12 ; 

 VII., Nos. 1-3. 

 Bird-Lore, IX., Nos. 1-6. 

 Bird Protection in Massachusetts, 1907. 

 Bonhote, J. LewiSf Birds of Britain. 



