3820 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
We have no faith whatever in the validity of the so-called 
species, Parus britannicus and Acredula rosea, both recognized 
by Mr. Mitchell. Between these and Parus ater on the one 
hand, and Acredula caxdata on the other, no end of intermediate 
forms occur, which entirely destroy the importance of the 
characters relied on by those who are fond of persuading 
themselves that they have discovered a new British bird. It 
is true that the difference of coloration between Acredula rosea 
and caudata is much more marked than in the case of Parus 
britannicus and ater; so much so, indeed, that on a comparison 
of well-marked specimens of both forms, rosea would seem 
entitled to specific rank ; but Herr von Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen, 
who has recently written upon the European Longtailed Tits 
(Mittheil. Orn. Verein, Wien, 1884, p. 103), states that in the 
district of Salzburg not only do both rosea and caudata appear, 
but also every possible form intermediate between the pure 
white-headed and the black-striped birds. 
As an interesting example of the way in which changes in 
cultivation will affect the avifauna of a district, we may refer to 
the account which is given (p. 165) of the introduction of Black 
Game into Lancashire. This bird seems to have followed the 
larch plantations, and Mr. Pearson, in tracing its present distri- 
bution in the county, says, “‘It is remarkable that within the 
period of my memory the summit of Cartmel Fell, then a healthy 
waste, was tenanted by the Red Grouse; it is now a larch forest 
occupied by Black Grouse.” 
A very commendable feature in Mr. Mitchell’s book is that 
the remarks made on the habits of the various species are the 
result of independent observation, and in all cases have a local 
bearing. It would, of course, have been easy to double the 
size of the volume by giving full descriptions of plumages, nests, 
and so forth, or by copying from the works of predecessors; but 
Mr. Mitchell assures us, in his Introduction, that his facts are 
all derived from original sources. His book forms a most 
acceptable addition to the steadily increasing series of county 
avifaunas. 
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