413 



NOTES AND COMIVIENTS. 



birds' eggs and ' I'KOTPXTIUX.' 



Notwithstanding the various Acts of Parliament and other 

 methods which have been adopted for the preservation of 

 our rarer birds, it is apparent that not only is the law being 

 repeatedly broken, and rare eggs are being regularly taken, but 

 dealers continue to publish hsts of rare eggs for sale, with 

 ' British taken ' clutches specially indicated. We have before 

 us a ' Special offer of choice eggs in clutches with full data,' 

 dated October 1910, published by a naturalist in Gloucester- 

 shire, the prices ranging up to 57/6 a clutch. Amongst the 

 ' British taken ' sets we notice Golden Eagle, Chough (two 

 sets). Raven (two sets). Great Skua, Greater and Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpeckers, Green ^^'oodpeckers, Short-eared Owl, Rock 

 Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler, Black Grouse, Shell, Eider, and 

 Tufted Ducks, Mute Swan, etc. It would be interesting to get 

 the ' full data ' of some of these. 



NEW NATURAL HISTORY SERIALS. 



The enormous number of popular natural history publica- 

 tions being issued by various houses is distinctly encouraging, 

 and is some indication of the continued interest that is being 

 taken in natural science generally. Many of these are 

 being produced in a way which leaves nothing to be desired, 

 either for the excellence of the matter, type, illustrations, 

 or for cheapness. Some, perhaps, are a little more ' popular ' 

 than scientific, but it is a welcome sign to find that the greatest 

 publishing firms now secure the services of our leading naturalists 

 and do not merely republish the so-called natural history of 

 decades ago. 



A HISTORY OF BRITISH MAMMALS. 



Perhaps the work for which there is the greatest need is 

 that with the above title, now being issued in half-crown parts 

 by Mr. G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. When completed, it will 

 consist of three volumes, with 81 plates [^i^ being coloured), 

 and over 250 illustrations in the text. Hitherto Tomes and 

 Alston's edition of Bell's History of British Quadrupeds has 

 been the standard work of reference on the subject, but it is 

 obviously out of date now. We have the first part of the work 

 before us, and though we have been anxiously looking forward 

 to it for some time, it certainly far exceeds our greatest anticipa- 

 tions.* No naturalist can possibly do without it, and all will 



* Gurnev & Jackson, pp. i-xvi., i-8, and 49-88. 



i^ ' 2 E 



1910 Dec. I. 



