Reviezvs. 219


clironio-lithographic plates of the Sedge and Grasshopper

Warbler, and no less than nine photogravures illustrating the

various attitudes assumed in courtship and so forth, and we can

only say that it is difficult to imagine more beautiful illustrations,

and would most heartily congratulate the artist, Mr. Grouvold,

and the author who, we understand, made the original sketches

from life. Two maps showing the summer and winter distri-

bution of the Grasshopper and Savi's Warbler complete the

illustrations.


In the text the author describes minutely the plumage of

adults and young, their geographical distribution and life-

history, and those chapters especially which deal with the

latter subject are stories of the utmost interest and fascination

to the nature lover. The nesting habits, courtship and display

of the males are minutely dealt with and the attitudes assumed

by the males are strikingly illustrated in the plates.


If the subsequent parts are equal to the first, and there

is no reason to doubt that they will be, "British Warblers"

will be one of the most charming works that has been produced

on any group of birds.


We hope to notice the subsequent parts in due course.



THE HYBRIDISING OF DUCKS*


In this paper the author describes the first fruits of a

series of experiments he has been carrying on during the last

few years in crossing various species of Ducks, the five species

concerned being the Mallard, Spotbill, New Zealand Duck,

Meller's Duck and Pintail. In these experiments the author has

purposely avoided the question of the Mandelian Laws of

heredity, nor has he made any attempt to prophesy as to the

result of any particular cross, the object of the experiments

being chiefly to try and effect many crosses and, by carefully

watching the results, to attempt to "throw some light on some

of the great and fundamental problems that underlie and per-

meate every branch of the science of Zoology, such as variation,

heredity, reversion, and so forth."


* Some Notes on the Hybridising of Ducks, by J. Lewis Botihote, M.A.. F,Iy.S., F.Z.S.

From the Proceedings of the IVth International Ornithological Congres , 190 .



