205



“ The Birds of A fried'



this letter, and it seems to me that two of them have much less

promise of the blue frontal band than the other two. It may be

that the wish is father to the thought!


Ligure, Italy, ioth March, / 905 .



“THE BIRDS OF AFRICA.”



The magnificent work by Captain Shelley which is being

published by Mr. R. H. Porter under the above title, has now

reached its fourth volume, this latter being produced in two

parts, each a substantial volume in itself.


For the past thirty years the author has made a special

study of the African Ornis, and it is doubtful whether anyone

equally suited for the task of writing such a book could have

been found. The work, when completed, will rank as one of

the greatest ornithological works that has ever been produced.


Part I. consists of a systematic list of the birds which are

to be dealt with in the work, comprising the whole of the species

inhabiting the Ethiopian region, and these reach the high total

of two thousand five hundred and thirty-four species, and as

new species are constantly being discovered, it is probable that

by the time the work is completed, this list will be somewhat

extended.


Volume II. treats of the Sunbirds, White-eyes, Tits,

Wagtails and Pipits; Vol. III. of the Larks, Buntings, Finches,

Sparrows and such like; while part I. of Vol. IV. deals with the

African Weavers, Whydahs, Waxbills, etc. This volume will

be doubly welcomed by aviculturists, for many of the birds it

treats of are known to us at home in their living state.


It appears to us that had some of the interesting notes

which have from time to time appeared in the Avicultural

Magazine, regarding the living birds, been quoted by the author,

the value of the book would have been enhanced : for the notes

on the life habits of birds made by collectors are few and far

between, and certain actions, notes, breeding-habits and so on,

can hardly be studied except where the birds are kept under

careful observation in aviaries.



