Review





13



three specimens. In shape they closely resemble the African Grey

Parrot, but are hardly as large. Their general body colour is green ;

primaries of wings edged with black ; outer webs of tail-feathers bright

blue; under tail coverts, scarlet; head, brown; cheeks, brown,

each feather edged with brown, giving it a pretty scaly appearance ;

bill, yellow ; bare skin around eye, white. They are rather quiet and

apathetic in their demeanour, but this may be due to their rather

rough condition. If they improve I shall try and breed from them

next season.


REVIEW


A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 1

The author of this book is a very keen observer, and has made most

careful and minute studies of the habits of the creatures around him

during a residence in the Himalayan Valley of Hazara, between the

years 1915 and 1916. The accounts he gives of the life-history of the

various species of ants, spiders, butterflies, and such-like creatures are

fascinating, but all point to the following of a blind propelling instinct

with complete lack of reasoning power. The author describes the

method employed by the Harvester Ants in collecting their winter

store of grain ; how the carnivorous species, Phidole inclica, on finding

its prey, hurries back to the nest to communicate the intelligence to

the army of workers and soldiers waiting for such a call; how the

geometrical spider constructs its wonderful snare with mathematical

precision. These and other small creatures have the secrets of their

lives divulged in this fascinating volume, which, however, is not entirely

confined to these small fry. The author has a chapter of observations

on mammals, in which he deals with the leopard, Himalayan monkey,

and flying squirrel, and another on birds, in which his remarks and

deductions on soaring flight, migration, nesting instinct, and so forth

are particularly interesting and instructive. There is not much

aviculture in this volume, but as the majority of aviculturists are

naturalists first, it will appeal to many readers of this journal.


1 A Naturalist in Himalaya, by Capt. R. W. G. Kingston, M.C., I.M.S.

Demy 8vo, cloth ; 16 page illustrations. Price 18s. net. H. F. and G.

Witherby, 326 High Holborn, W.C. 1.



