Reviews.



233



only seventeen species being actually known to nest. Apart

from its interest to visitors this paper is of considerable scientific

value and brings to one’s mind better perhaps than in any other

way the enormous multitude of birds that yearly on their migra¬

tion pass through the fertile valley of the Nile, bounded on

either side with its barren deserts.


With the rarer species the actual records and dates are

given, and the author is to be greatly congratulated on this

valuable addition to our knowledge of the Egyptian avifauna.



BRITISH BIRDS. *


The numbers under review contain numerous notes chiefly

of the occurrences of rare or local birds in different parts of

Great Britain. We might draw attention to many notes on the

immigration of the Little Auk during the past winter, and to the

recovery of ringed birds; with regard to these latter it is notice¬

able that a large percentage are recaptured comparatively near

the place where they were originally rung. Mr. H. H. Joy con¬

tributes a most interesting article on the ringing and recapture

in successive winters of Starlings. Among the more important

articles we may note one by Mr. W. H. Mullens on Thomas

Muffet, a ‘Doctor in Physick,’ who made a speciality of birds

from the gastronomic point of view; one on the Dipper, by Mr.

Arthur Brook, illustrated by some very nice photographs. Mr.

E. B. Dunlop also writes on the habit of some species to com¬

mence incubation with the laying of the first egg.


THE RARER BIRDS OF SOMERSET.!


This is a small book on the ‘Rarer Birds’of Somerset,

among which we find included the Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden

Warbler, Meadow Pipit, etc., and under each species is given

a short description, but no mention of its distribution in the

county is given.



* March, April, May, 1912. London : Withkrby & Co. Monthly 1/-.


+ The Rarer Birds of Somerset, compiled and edited by Amy Smith. Taunton : The

Wessex Press. Price 1/-.



