VOL VIII ] REVIEW. 247 



Of the parts under review, the first coutams an account 

 of the Marsh- Warbler, in the course of which interesting 

 comparisons are made between the habits of this bird and 

 that of its near ally the Reed- Warbler. Although the two 

 birds are so much alike in form and colour, Mr. Howard 

 finds that their habits, and especially their emotional 

 behaviour, are easily differentiated though they have 

 rudiments in common. He also gives an interesting account 

 of the vocal powers of the Marsh- Warbler and its extraordinary 

 imitative faculty, in which it probably surpasses all other 

 British species. The construction of the nest and its 

 variability is discussed at length, and finally reasons are 

 given for suggesting that the evolutionary development 

 of the Marsh- Warbler is of more recent occurrence than that 

 of the Reed- Warbler, and that it has not yet completely 

 adapted itself to its environment. 



Part VIII. treats of the Garden- Warbler, whose behaviour 

 is very similar to that of the Blackcap, but here again there 

 are points of difference, though these are not so marked as 

 in the cases of the Reed- and Marsh- Warblers or Willow- 

 Warbler and Chiffchaff. It is curious to note that the male 

 betrays more antagonism when a male Blackcap enters 

 his territory than when a male of any other species does 

 so : indeed this antagonism is nearly equal to that exhibited 

 when a male of his own species intrudes. The two species 

 no doubt require similar conditions of existence, and when 

 they come into touch with each other there is the inevitable 

 struggle for existence. 



The Dartford and Icterine Warblers are briefly described 

 in Part IX., but the bulk of the part is devoted to a summary 

 of the chief observations made in the course of the whole 

 work. Here we find that in the species dealt with, the males 

 arrive before the females, that they take up a breeding 

 " territory," an idea which leads to a discussion as to 

 whether the struggles which ensue have as a primary cause 

 the possession of a female or the possession of a " territory." 

 With the advent of a female in the '' territory," a period of 

 sexual activity producing striking emotional behaviour 

 commences, and the variations and meaning of these are 

 discussed at some length. The construction of the nest 



