Reviews .



257



maintained an average pace of 106 miles an hour for 160 miles.

As to the power of duration, a continuous flight of between 16

or 17 hours is quoted, but here again the author implies that this

would be exceptional. We know, however, that in the ‘ Tippler ’

a breed of Pigeons, the record flight for old birds is over iS hours

and for young birds nearly 16 hours, and in the former case they

were called down at dusk and did not stop from exhaustion.

These points, however, are merely matters of opinion, and the

author is probably wise in keeping well within the mark.


The book is so moderate in price and contains such a

wealth of new matter that it should have a ready sale amongst

the public, airmen and ornithologists.



BRITISH WARBLERS. *


Mr. Howard has made himself master of the habits, more

especially during the courting season, of one of our most in¬

teresting groups of birds, and the results of the small habits and

actions so carefully recorded, form a foundation 011 which more

generalised work in the future may follow. The habits and

courting measures of birds have been much neglected by the

orthodox ornithologist, and yet, in the bird’s economy and in the

evolution of the different species, they must have played a part

as important, if not more essential, than the various differences

of form and colour. The book is carefully and well written and

forms most interesting reading for bird-lovers as well as for those

who take ornithology more seriously. The species dealt with in

this part are the Willow, Savi’s and Rufous Warblers. We have

nothing but praise for Mr. Gronvold’s plates, the actions and

positions being taken from the author’s sketches. They are

unique in the positions they illustrate, but to anyone who knows

his birds they a>e obviously truthful.



* The British Warblers, A history with problems of their lives, by H. Eliot Howard,

F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Illustrated by Henrik Gronvold. Pt. 6. 4 to.


London : R. H. Porter. 21 /- net.



