Revieivs.



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heart does not grieve for ” is totally untrue. Most of us have never

witnessed, and never will in this life, the Paradise Birds spreading

their nuptial plumes in the forests of New Guinea ; the colonies of

the White Egrets, flying in companies against an azure sky ; the

splendid Crowned Pigeons drumming out their resounding notes in

their native jungles ; the Humming Birds glittering with all the

jewels of the earth, as they flash amongst the valleys and mountains

of the great continent of South America ; but for all that we like to

know they are there, we like to ponder upon the marvels of age-long

evolution which has developed them into what they are ; and, unless

man steps in, will still develop them into what they will be.


But that is the whole point of “ Our Vanishing Wild Life ” !

Man and woman has stepped in—man to kill, woman to wear!


The book is full of illustrations, amongst which are excellent

portraits of some of the well-known birds of the United States, that

of the merry Rose-breasted Grosbeak being especially good.


It is a book to possess, and a book to give away : but do not

give away your only copy, unless perchance by so doing you may

convert one sinner. H. D. A.


NESTS AND EGGS OE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.


Part I. of the fourth volume of the second edition of Mr.

North’s magnificent work, the previous parts of which have already

been noticed in this journal, is to hand, and deals with the Ibises,

Spoonbills, Herons, Storks, Swans, Geese and Ducks. Written in

the very thorough and exhaustive style characteristic of Mr. North’s

work, and containing very full field notes, it forms a most useful and

valuable work on the groups of which it treats.


Of the splendid Straw-necked Ibis, the author tells us that it

has been distinguished by some pastoralists as the most useful bird

in Australia, destroying as it does vast quantities of injurious insects

of all kinds.


A long account is given of the Nankeen Night-Heron, which

reminds the writer of a most interesting sight he witnessed one

evening at dusk in the Zoological Gardens at Melbourne. Walking

round with the Director, as we approached a lake we noticed that

every tall tree in its vicinity was covered with these birds, while



