132



Review.



The illustrations are worthy of the letterpress. Many are in

colour ; of these we would specially mention the Swallow about to

feed her young as they perch on a willow stump, mouths agape and

wings aquiver. Excellent, also, is the Spotted Flycatcher and her

brood — -the feathering of the nearer youngster is so well done that

one could almost rumple its plumage. Good, also, are the Blue Tit

and her young, the family of Wrens, and the carefully-drawn Cuckoo

facing p. 272. Miss Austen’s Snow Buntings at their icy repast are

well set off by the chilly snowfield and its pale blue shadows.


The smaller illustrations are equally interesting. Some birds

are seen in motion, others in still solitude. Of the former we note

the Montagu Harrier as it floats along almost brushing the ground

(p. 21) ; the Barn Owl, its not distant cousin, following its example

(p. 246) ; and the soaring, circling Buzzard (p. 67). Among the

hermits we find the Dipper by the streamlet and the Bock Pipit

standing on its boulder like a sentinel on duty (p. 144). Then, again,

the Kazorbills (p. 338) give a wonderful impression of swaying move¬

ment as they float on the water, buoyant as corks. Equally

successful are the Sand-Martins on p. 191, as they flutter moth-like

over the water. Finally, the Weasel, on p. 171, has been portrayed

in an attitude at once truthful and characteristic.


Unfortunately, the hook is marred by several errors. It is

incorrect to state that the eggs of Hawks or any other birds are

marked with blood-stains (p. 26), such colouring being invariably

derived from oorhodeine or other special pigment, such as oocyan

or ooxanthine. Had the authors been acquainted with the literature

of egg-pigments they would have known that such bodies are related

to bile rather than to blood. On p. 213, Arcliceopteryx is claimed as

“the” earliest bird, though Laopteryx of the Upper Jurassic was

probably contemporary with it. On p. 296 three errors occur. We do

not know what kind of person a “latter-day Winterton” may be; the

owner of Walton Hall was named Waterton. Mr. Seton Thompson

is a well-known naturalist, but with Mr. Thompson Seton we are

unacquainted. Baron Hans Berlepsch is a pioneer bird-protector,

but Baron Bwrlepsch is unknown to fame.


It seems to us a pity to attempt the illustration of eggs

without the aid of colour. Thus, the Moorhen’s clutch on p. 47 is



