SCIENCE-GOSSIP 



^7 



.1 Dictionary of Birds. By Alfred Newton, 

 assisted by Hans Gadow, with Contributions 

 from Richard Lydekker, Charles S. Roy and 



ROBERT W. ShUFELDT. Paris I. and II. 176pp., 

 large 8 vo., profusely illustrated. (London: Adam 

 and Charles Black, 1:893.) '" '"' completed in 

 lour parts, each 7s. 6d. net. 



For some time past a new ornithological 

 dictionary has been wanted. It is many years 

 since Montague's was brought up to date. The 

 study of birds, like other sciences, has been 

 progressing, even in synonomy. From all points 

 of view no better editor-in-chief could have been 

 found for such new dictionary than the veteran 

 Professor Alfred Newton, of Cambridge. The 

 association of Hans Gadow with him is fortunate, 

 for his supervision of that part which deals with 

 structure and anatomy will ensure great complete- 

 ness. There is a good arrangement for identifying 

 the work of each by printing the titles of their 

 respective articles in different type, thus practically 

 amalgamating two books in one. 



On looking over the pages of these two parts 

 which carry us to the word " Moa," the result is 

 one of general satisfaction. The feeling comes 

 that these parts are the moiety of a book which is 

 going to be a standard work tor at least the next 

 quarter century, Occasionally we fail to find in 

 it some technical word used in connection with 



Mkrlins. 



birds, which we think would have been better there, 

 for instance, "lore," which is often used, but which 

 only appears in some of the more modern general 

 dictionaries. The same omission applies to some 

 local bird-names. Of these Professor Newton 

 says in his prefatory note to Part 1. that he has 

 intentionally " kept out a vast number of local 

 names, even of British birds, which could have 

 been easily inserted, though preserving most of 



those that have found their way into some sort of 

 literature ranging from an epic poem to an act of 

 parliament ; but I confess to much regret in being 

 compelled to exclude them, because the subject is 

 one "i greai interest and has never been properl) 

 treated " We fully share in this regret, for it is 

 when meeting with one of these unfamiliar words, 

 either in conversation or while reading, one most 





needs such a dictionary as this. We cannot under- 

 stand the principle of selection or rejection, for we 

 find "dunnock" as a local name for hedge-sparrow, 

 though "cuddy," which is another name for the 

 same bird used over large districts in the North 

 nf England, is not there. 



Special articles appear in their alphabetical 

 position which are ot great value and of con- 

 siderable length. For instance, Anatomy occupies 

 nearly seven pages; Colour, si> pages: Era- 

 bryology, abouc eighteen pages: Extermination, 

 fourteen pages: Flight (by Roy), twelve pages; 

 Fossil Birds (by Lydekker), eleven pages; Geo- 

 graphical Distribution, illustrated by a map of 

 regions, is a most important article covering 

 upwards of fifty pages, whilst Migration occupies 

 twenty-five pages. Some of these articles, in 

 foundation at least, have appeared in the Ninth 

 I'd it ion of "Encyclopaedia Britannica,*' but they are 

 well lifted into this work, lor they will be more 

 accessible to many students 



The woodcuts and other illustrations are chiefly 

 borrowed from various sources, but they have been 

 well chosen. There are some by Wolf, others In 

 T, W. Wood and many by Swainson. Through 

 the courtesy ot the publishers of the " Dictionary 

 oi British Birds," we are enabled to give a couple 

 ol specimens, one being a quaint sketch taken in 

 1001, from life, of the now extinct Dodo, the other 

 a drawing ol Merlins by that cle\er artist. Wolf. 



When completed this excellent Dictionary oi 

 Birds will be a valuable addition to the list of 

 books of reference for either student or country 

 gentleman, J. T < '. 



