NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 379 
show a decided improvement upon those in the preceding Parts, 
the eggs of the Corvide, for example, and some of the Fringillide, 
being fairly good. 
We imagine that Mr. Butler’s prime object in producing this 
work is based upon a conviction that a trustworthy manual of 
British Oology, cheaper than the large works from which he has 
drawn, would find considerable favour. In this we are inclined 
to agree with him, and for his sake we hope there may be many 
who will willingly pay thirty shillings. We feel compelled, how- 
ever, to say that as yet many of his figures do not compare 
even favourably with those in Laishley’s ‘ British Birds’ Eggs,’ 
published, if we mistake not, at a third of the price. 
Not more than a page, as a rule, is devoted to each species 
headed by the English and Latin names, with a reference to 
plates and figures. Brief notes follow on the geographical 
distribution, food, nest and position of nest, number of eggs and 
time of nidification; the remainder of the page being occupied 
with what may be termed ‘‘ general observations.” Some of 
these are remarkable, we are sorry to say, for their inaccuracy. 
To give an instance: alluding to the Wryneck, Mr. Butler says 
(p. 112), ‘‘ Its cry is a sharp whistle, supposed to represent the 
word jynx, whence its generic name.”’ The name of the author 
who hazarded such an extraordinary supposition is not given, — 
and it is due to the great authority on derivation (who has made 
this subject peculiarly his own) to state that Mr. Butler’s words 
do not accurately represent his views on the question (see ‘The 
Ibis List of British Birds,’ p. 80). Knowing Mr. Butler’s 
partiality for a joke, we should be almost inclined to suspect 
him of playing “high jinks”’ with his readers. It is perhaps 
fortunate for them that he does not describe the young as well 
as the egg of each species in his book; otherwise we might 
expect to find him characterising the young Wryneck as ‘‘ Jynx’s 
baby.” 
The Book of Duck Decoys: their Construction, Management, and 
History. By Sir Raupa Payne Gauiwey, Bart.  4to, 
pp. 214. With numerous coloured plates and wood 
engravings. London: Van Voorst. 1886. 
In this handsomely got up volume a subject of much interest 
to naturalists and sportsmen has been, for the first time, 
