NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 79 
instances a much better idea of the species than badly executed 
plates would do under similar circumstances. The nomenclature 
of the Canadian birds of prey adopted by Mr. Vennor is principally 
that employed by Mr. Ridgway in the great work on ‘ North- 
American Birds’; but in certain instances we cannot agree with 
him, as, for example, when he classes the Greenland Falcon (Falco 
candicans) and the Labrador Falcon (Falco Labradorus) under 
the head of one species, which he calls Falco sacer of Forster. The 
information given under Swainson’s Buzzard will be largely sup- 
plemented by future observations ; for although Mr. Vennor appears 
to have been under the impression that the species was hardly 
distinct, there is really not the smallest doubt as to its being a 
very well-marked species, and representing in the northern part of 
the New World the well-known Common Buzzard of Europe. 
Again, Mr. Vennor follows Mr. Ridgway in treating the South- 
American Harrier (Circus cinereus) as a mere “variety” of C. Hud- 
sonius ; but we must remark, en passant, that if such well-marked 
birds are not to be considered as true and distinct species then all 
the other Harriers of the world may as well be united under one 
heading. He duly notes the rarity of blue-plumaged Harriers as 
compared with the brown-plumaged individuals, and it is possibly 
the rarity of the former that has prevented him from giving more 
than a figure of a female or young bird. 
In conclusion, we may remark that no one can study this book 
without finding that it adds greatly to our knowledge of Canadian 
Ornithology, and we observe with pleasure the very careful notes 
on the habits and distribution of the species. In every instance, 
also, the soft parts of the birds are given—a feature omitted in the 
work on ‘ North-American Birds’ above alluded to. 
The Fox al Home, and other Tales. By GEORGE Rooper, Author 
of * Flood, Field, and Forest, ‘A Month in Mayo, &e. With 
eight illustrations by G. Bowers and J. Carlisle. Second 
Edition. Post 8vo, pp. 248. London: Hardwicke & Bogue. 
1877. 
Tuis little volume, as may be gathered from its title, is written 
perhaps rather for lovers of sport than for lovers of Natural History, 
but to both the book will be welcome. Every page bears upon it 
