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Reviezvs.



way of dealing with natural history problems, for, like another

well-known Anglo-Indian naturalist, “Eha” (Mr. E. H. Aitken),

he is given to thinking for himself, the close acquaintance with

nature forced upon one in the East effectually precluding a too

easy acquiescence in the flimsily-spun theories so common in

the works of stay-at-home writers.


The illustrations are not the least valuable part of the

work; they are photographs of living birds taken by Captain

R. S. F. Fayrer, I.M.S. They are all useful for recognition, the

strongly characterized colouration and forms of common Indian

birds making photographs of them far more striking likenesses

than is the case with our well-known species, and some of them

are really beautiful pictures, such as the cow accompanied by

the Cattle-Egrets and the Scavenger-Vulture brooding on her

nest by a pinnacle. Taken altogether this is a most important

contribution to the growing literature dealing with the common

animals of our Indian possessions, and a book I would recom¬

mend to all interested in wild life. Frank Finn.



THE EGGS OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. *


The first part of this important work which will run into

about ten parts and deal with all the known European species,

has reached us.


The author has followed the recommendation of the Fifth

International Zoological Congress with regard to nomenclature,

and fully recognises all the geographical races of the various

species as worked out by Dr. Hartert in his book 011 the Birds of

the Palsearctic fauna, and of course the tri-nomial system of

nomenclature has been adopted.


It is, of course, very important that the geographical races

of the various species should be recognized if they are found to

differ constantly from one another, and thus the system of tri¬

nomial nomenclature for which, in this country, Dr. Hartert is

largely responsible, is essential. The Continental form of the

Jay is found to differ from our own bird, and as this was the



* The Eggs of European Birds , by the Rev. Francis C. R. Jourdain, M.A., M.B.O.U.

Price 10/6 per part. Part I. Loudon : R. H. Porter.



