99



Notices of New Books, etc.



occurrence of the Semi-palmated Sandpiper {Ereunetespusillus)

in Kent, the first record of this American species in Europe. A

batch of interesting notes and some reviews complete an excellent

number.



The Birds of Tierra dee Fuego. By Richard Crawshay, Captain,

Reserve of Officers : late Inliiskilling Dragoons. London, BERNARD

Quaritch, 1907. pp. 158 and pp. XL. of Preface, Introduction and

Index. 21 col. plates and 22 photographic plates of landscapes, one

woodcut and coloured map.


In the dearth of books in which the habits of South

American birds have been recorded, each one that appears is

a boon to the Aviculturist; and, however poor he may be, he is

immediately anxious to add it to his library.


I11 Taczauowski’s three volumes upon the Birds of Peru,

only here and there do we come across a short paragraph by

Stolzmaun, which tells us anything respecting the wild life of

the species of that country.


On the other hand, in the “Argentine Ornithology ” by

Messrs. Sclater and Hudson, the accounts of the wild life are as

complete as Mr. Hudson was able to make them, and therefore

are full of interest. I11 Burmeister’s old work on the Birds of

Brazil we also find much information.


Mr. Crawshay has always been an enthusiastic naturalist:

in the old days when he was a great collector of East African

Insects, I considered him the very prince of collectors ; he never

neglected to record, not only the habits of the species which he

captured, but the character of the country, of the climate and of

the plants which prevailed.


As he was then, so he is now ; his work is always excellent;

what he does not know from personal experience he collates from

the writings of other Naturalists; and thus we, who (in our

search after records of the wild life of our captive friends) might

have to wade through many scattered volumes, are saved con¬

siderable labour.


It is true that this handsome volume is very expensive and

thus only the rich, or the strenuous workers among our members,

can be expected to purchase it ; but there is comfort in the



