133



Notices of Nezv Books , etc.



Grey Parrots at any period of their lives. Out of some six

hundred cases of sickness brought to the reviewer’s notice

during the past nine years, about a third have suffered from

vomiting, diarrhoea, and apparent influenza colds : in nearly

every instance the malady has been traceable to the use of sop

and generally milk-sop, and has been checked or cured almost

immediately by a removal of the unnatural food and recourse to a

dry regime.


After the Garden and Park Birds (Part III.) we come to

the Cold-blooded Animals beginning with those interesting pets

—the Reptiles and Amphibians for which, strangely enough,

some people seem to have an unaccountable horror ; yet lizards

make most interesting and affectionate pets, while the harmless

snakes and slow-worms are pretty and soon learn to know their

owner. The book terminates with accounts of the various more

popular species of fish suitable for aquaria. Altogether it is a

valuable and instructive book, which all lovers of Nature would

do well to add to their libraries. The plates and photographs

are admirable, the natural attitudes of the animals being truth¬

fully depicted, and where colours are given these also are true to

Nature. A. G. B.



BRITISH BIRDS.


The January number of British Birds commences with

an account, illustrated by two photographs, of the breeding of the

Hen-Harrier and Hobby in Surrey in 1907, by C. H. Bentliam

and L- B. Mouritz. The only previous record of the former

bird breeding in the county appears to have reference to some

young birds taken as long ago as 1842, but the Hobby has been

known to nest in Surrey twice previously. Dr. C. B. Ticehurst

publishes a short article on the Wood-Pigeon diphtheria ;

Messrs. H. F. Witherby and N. F. Ticehurst continue their

account of the more important additions to our knowledge of

British Birds since 1899 ; Mr. J. B. Nichols records and illustrates

a new British bird—the Grey-backed Warbler as having occurred

in Kent, and points out the characters by which it may be dis¬

tinguished from the Rufous Warbler ; a number of interesting

Notes and two Reviews complete the number.



