90 Book Notice. 



In Mr. Mortimer's well-known book on ' Forty Years' 

 Researches in British and Saxon Burial Mounds of East York- 

 shire/ two similar specimens are figured, one 5f inches long 

 was found in a barrow at Garton Slack ; another a little larger 

 was found in an adjoining grave. This last-named specimen, as 

 in the case of the Cottingham dagger, is notched towards the 

 blunt end, in order to give better security to the handle. 

 Unfortunately, in the Cottingham example, the extremitj- of 

 the point has been broken away, apparently recently ; but this 

 has been carefullj' restored. 



NOTE ON OTTONIA B I CO LOR. 



C. F. GEORGE, M.R.C.S., 



Kirton-in-L indsey. 



(plate II.). 



In ' The Naturalist ' for igo8, page 452, I gave a brief descrip- 

 tion of Tromhidium hicolor (Hermann). At that time I had not 

 a specimen in proper condition for drawing, but in February 

 1909, Mr. Evans sent to me, with other mites, a specimen 

 taken by him in December 1905, in moss, from Aberfoyle in 

 Perthshire ; it had become almost decolorized from long 

 maceration in the preservative solution ; and from this specimen 

 Mr. Soar made the drawing to illustrate this paper. The e3'es 

 prominent, the hairs distinct and simple, and the crista are 

 seen to be well marked ; an enlarged figure of this organ is seen 

 •at c. There are two stigmata, each provided with a curved 

 tactile hair ; the backward projecting portion is rather short bvit 

 well defined ; some of the hairs on the legs are seen to be pecti- 

 nate (Plate II., fig. e). 



' •■ The Kea : A New Zealand Problem, by G. R. Marriner. London : 

 Williams and Norgate. 151 pp., 7/6 net. 



Much has been written about this extraordinary parrot, and its remark- 

 able acquired habit of attacking sheep and feeding upon their flesh. There 

 is no doubt that in some cases reports have been exaggerated. Mr. 

 Marriner has made an exhaustive enquiry on the subject, having visited 

 various parts of New Zealand for the purpose, and gives the result of his 

 work in this volume. From this it is clear that the Kea is guilty, and has 

 done great harm to the flocks of sheep. Its method seems to be to alight 

 on the back of a sheep, and simply tear away the flesh, quite regardless of 

 the animal's frantic attempts to get rid of its enemy. The book is illus- 

 trated by a large number of convincing photographs, and besides containing 

 a good account of the birds, also describes their country well. 



Naturalist, 



