340 Recently published Ornitholoyical Works. 



and this paper deals with the birds found in the immediate 

 neighbourhood. It is a low-lying district, having an average 

 elevation of about 400 feet, and the majority of the birds 

 found within the limits belong to Lower Sonoran life-zone. 

 The species enumerated are 161 in number, and ample field- 

 notes are given in each case. 



Van Pelt Lechner on the Eggs of the Birds of Holland. 



[Oologia Neerlandica. Eggs of Birds breeding in the Netherlands. 

 By A. A. van Pelt Lechner. With coloured plates made direct from 

 specimens in the author's collection. Parts i.-vi. The Hague (M. 

 Nijhoff), 1911-1913. (Size 10"x7f ".) Subscription price for the com- 

 plete work, £7 7s.] 



Heer van Pelt Lechner's work is now approaching com- 

 pletion, as 160 plates out of the total number of 191 have 

 already been issued, and it is now possible to form some 

 idea as to the value and scope of this important contribution 

 to oology. 



The work consists of three parts : an atlas of plates illus- 

 trating the eggs of every species which has bred in Holland ; 

 a page of text to face each plate, with briefly tabulated 

 information as to the colour, size, weight, and shape of the 

 eggs, and concise notes on the nest and breeding-habits of 

 each species, but containing no information as to the 

 breeding-range in Holland ; and thirdly, oological studies 

 with regard to the structure, colour, and characteristics of 

 the eggs of each family. 



When complete the work will contain 667 figures of 

 eggs, of which 608 will be reproduced in colour, and the 

 remaining 59, which represent white eggs, by photography. 

 The latter may be briefly dismissed, as they have the usual 

 defects of photographs, and give little idea of the texture 

 and none of the gloss of the eggs in question. The 

 coloured plates, however, demand fuller notice. Each egg 

 is separately figured and mounted, so that in some cases 

 there are as many as six figures on one plate, each separately 

 reproduced by three-colour process. By this system the 

 author has ensured perfect focussing for each egg. The 

 screen- work, though readily seen on microscopic examination, 



