The Zoologist — September, 1871. 2733 



A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the Species 

 inhabiting the Western Palcearctic Region. By R. B. 

 Sharpe, F.L.S., and H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S. Royal 4lo. In 

 Monthly Parts, 12s. 6d. each. Published at the Office of the 

 Zoological Society, 11, Hanover Square. 



Those who live ten or a dozen years longer will look back 

 on 1871 as the annus mirahilis of bird-lore, the great year of 

 ornithological enterprise. Already we have Cassell's ' Birds,' 

 Keulemans' ' Cage Birds,' ' Bird-Life,' a fourth edition of Yarrell's 

 'History of British Birds,' and Sharpe and Dresser's 'Birds of 

 Europe,' and the cry is still " they come." 



It is no part of my duty as a Natural-History editor to explain 

 the cause of this, or to trace a connexion between what in 

 Stock-exchange phraseology is denominated the " plethora of 

 capital" and this excessive exhibition of ornithic enterprise ; but 

 when I see my waste-paper basket loaded with prospectuses 

 announcing the most feasible plans for making a fortune, and 

 pressing me to embark my little all in tramways, railways, mines, 

 quarries, tontines, banks, insurance, iron, wine and beer, and when 

 I see these literary productions reposing side by side with others 

 announcing the advent of bird-books galore, it is difficult to avoid 

 associating the two classes of venture with each other, and both 

 with the state of the money market and the " bank rate." " But 

 then," argues my reader, " the tramways, &c., are projected for 

 purposes of profit : the wealth that will accrue to the exchequer of 

 each company is certain, redundant, excessive, and it is only from 

 motives of pure philanthropy, or better still, of affection for myself 

 individually, that these gentlemen offer to share their income with 

 me; whereas the enterprising publishers of bird-books only suggest 

 the purchase of their productions as a means of dispensing the 

 revenue which the other investments will supply." Well, well, 

 I have no skill in logic or in figures : my head is not set on the 

 right way for either; but still the prospectuses arrive, and still the 

 bank rate is two per cent., and it seems excusable to have made 

 the mistake. 



Leaving this collateral branch of the subject, for I feel I am 



second series — VOL. VI. 2 T 



