Reviews.



199



■out of the plate ; Ruppell’s Warbler in its pretty grey suit sings

happily, perched on a twig. Then we have the rare Olivaceous

Warbler of South-Eastern Europe hunting for insects, and the

Moustached Warbler slipping into a reed-brake like the Sedge

Warbler which it so much resembles.


We cannot, however, discover any reason for figuring two

forms so completely alike as the Marsh and the Willow Titmouse.

In the coloured plate they are indistinguishable from each other, so

that we learn without surprise that the latter bird so closely resembles

the Marsh Titmouse that it was not separated till 1897 ; personally,

we think 1918 all too early for this weighty operation. The gradua¬

tion of the tail feathers, supposed to be of diagnostic value, is

not shown in the plate. In spite of the opinion of the latest

<l authorities,” to us this seems specialisation run mad.


The Greater Redpoll figured is unsatisfactory, in spite of the

beautifully rendered plumage; its unpleasant, one-eyed appearance

detracts markedly from the careful detail of the head. The hen of

the Scottish Crossbills is not only too Parrot-like but even resembles

a definite species — the Owl Parrot of New Zealand; this likeness

being unfortunately accentuated by the diving attitude of the cock

bird, the Owl Parrot having a similar habit of dropping to cover with

closed wings. Although the pose of the Yellowshank leaves nothing

to be desired, the tibial muscles of the left leg are barely discernible

without the aid of a lens. G. R.



AVICULTURE AT THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL


PARK.*


By the kindness of Mr. Astley we have received a copy of the

book of photographic engravings issued by the New York Zoological

Society to illustrate their magnificent Park on Bronx River. The

book contains twenty-four pages of illustrations and is capitally got

up ; the clearness and beauty of the reproductions constitute it a

veritable album. The views have been taken by the Society’s

official photographer, Mr. Sanborn, and he has been most successful



* 1 New York Zoological Park.’ Book of Views. Series 2. Published by the

New York Zoological Society. 50 cents.



