460 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
experience as a collector in all parts of the world, was aware of any land 
except Iceland, outside the Arctic Circle, from which no butterflies had been 
recorded. Mr. J.J. Walker replied that the only place in the world which 
he had visited, in which butterflies were entirely absent was Pitcairn 
Tsland.—H. Goss, Hon. Secretary. 

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 
An Illustrated Manual of British Birds. By Howarp Saunpers, 
F.L.S., F.Z.8. 8vo, pp. xl, 754. With illustrations of 
nearly every species. London: Gurney & Jackson, Pater- 
noster Row. 1888—89. 
In ‘ The Zoologist’ for August, 1888, we noticed the com- 
mencement of this useful work, of which four parts had then 
appeared. The punctuality with which it has been issued 
in monthly shilling parts reflects credit alike on author and 
publishers, and now, with the appearance of the twentieth part, 
it has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. 
In a single volume of nearly 800 pages we have a condensed 
account of 367 birds which, in the opinion of Mr. Saunders, are 
entitled to rank as British, accompanied by an illustration of 
almost every one of them, including several species whose 
portraits have been expressly engraved for this ‘ Manual,’ and 
are supplementary, therefore, to those previously figured in the 
volumes of Yarrell’s standard work. 
The scientific arrangement followed is mainly in accordance 
with that of ‘The Ibis’ List of British Birds, in which again the 
sequence is almost identical with that in Mr. Dresser’s ‘ Birds of 
Europe.’ The introduction, extending to forty pages, is occupied 
chiefly with systematic diagnoses of the genera, the utility of 
which is obviously greater in facilitating the comparison of 
allied genera than the old plan of giving a diagnosis of each 
genus in the place assigned to it in the body of the work. 
It will, perhaps, surprise some readers to find the Nightingale 
located with the Thrushes in the subfamily Twrdine, instead of 
with the Warblers in the subfamily Sylviine, with which it has 
been familiarly associated; but the reason for this is to be found 
in the appearance of the young on leaving the nest, young 
Nightingales, like young Thrushes, having the upper and under 
