Vol. xxix.] 18 



and gives us a detailed account of his adventures. The 

 second part of his handsome volume, prepared by Dr. 0. le 

 Roi, contains a systematic list of the Birds of Bear Island 

 and Spitsl)ergen. The whole work is profusely illustrated : 

 the former part of it by photog^raphic text-figures, the latter 

 by coloured plates, some of which are excellent. Nearly all 

 the birds of Spitsbergen are also in the British List, and 

 Dr. Koenig's good piece of work will, I am sure, be much 

 appreciated in England. 



Mr. Mathews seems to be making good progress with his 

 arduous task and hopes to be able to complete the first 

 volume of his 'Birds of Australia' before tlie end of the 

 year. 



A still more serious task has been undertaken by Lord 

 Brabourne and Mr. Chubb — that of a book on the Birds of 

 South America, from Panama to Patagonia. This will 

 necessitate the study of some 4000 species, to which 

 constant additions are being made in the shape of sub- 

 species. We all know Mr. Chubb and his capabilities of 

 work, but in this case the burden is indeed heavy. 



We also hear of a volume on the ' Birds of Colorado,' in 

 preparation by Mr. W. L. Sclater, and of a ' Vivid Story of 

 Desert Island Life,' written by Dr. Percy Pi. Lowe, who (iis 

 we all know) has visited many such islands in the Caribbean 

 Sea. There is therefore no lack of promises of ornitho- 

 logical matter to come; whilst we must not forget tliat 

 there are also many good ornithologists haid at work on the 

 Continent, in the United States, and in our Colonies. 



In the special department of Oology, also, there has been 

 much activity of late years. Mr. Dresser has finished his 



* Palsearctic Birds' Eggs,' and has given us many excellent 

 figures of eggs previously little known to us. Mr. Jourdaiu 

 has now issued four out of the ten promised parts of his 



* European Birds' Eggs,' of the beauty of which it is 

 unnecessary to speak; and Dr. Hartert has lately made us 

 acquainted (see Nov. Zool. xvii. p. 481) with the splendid 

 series of eggs of Paradise-Birds in the Tring Museum. 

 There have been manv other workers in the same field. 



