one of those sounds which the English alphabet is incapable of

rendering truthfully : and we should have given the sound

emitted when the bird stops "purring" and takes flight, as

something like coo-oo uttered softly, rather than as dee- dee ; but

co-ic, co-ic is a very truthful rendering of the sound made

frequently by the bird on the wing, probably by the male only

when chasing the female. This, by the way, is the sound alluded

to by Gilbert While as a "small squeak" {e). The Author does

not mention the clapping of the wings over the back which is so

characteristic of this species, as well as of the Woodpigeon

{C . palumbus) \n Wi^ '$)^xm.%. This is, of course, not a «^/^ but

a distinct aid to identification nevertheless.


The Woodpigeon is only mentioned under the misleading

name of Ring-dove, by which it is absolutely unknown to many

people.


In the second part of the volume the names of the Species

are given in alphabetical order, opposite which are printed the

notes they utter.


The third part consists of a " Glossary of popular, local

and old-fashioned names of British birds," which will be found

most useful b}^ those who reside in remote localities where the

peasants are, for the most part, unfamiliar with the generally-

accepted names of the birds. Most of us would be much puzzled

if we were told that a certain bird was a " Blethering Tarn ; " but

by the aid of Mr. Rett's book we should find that this was

merely a local name for the familar Stonechat. We should

probably be equally at sea if told that a certain sound was

produced by a " French Magpie," but the book before us informs

us that this is an appellation in some parts bestowed upon the

lyCsser Spatted Woodpecker.


A list of birds accepted as "British" constitutes the

fourth part of this useful little volume. Here the names of the

species are printed in orthodox order,, and the scientific names

are given. The Author has, we are glad to see, kept to the

nomenclature adopted by the B. O. U., instead of following

the authorities at South Kensington. The Goldfinch is still

Curdzielis elegans instead of Cardiielis carduelis, and the Partridge

is still Perdix cinerea and not Perdix perdix.


At the end of the volume we find a list of terms applied,

to various gatherings of birds.


The book is very small and compact, and can easily be

carried in the pocket. It contains a large amount of information,


(eV Letter to Thos. P'ennant, written from Selboniey Jan. 2fnd,- 1769.



