3 68 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Birds: of Siberia. Bv Hexrt Seebohm. F.L.S.. 

 F.Z.S..FJLG.S. xix -'ol2pp.,9±in. x 6 § in. with 

 map and 112 illustrations. (London : John Murrav. 

 1901.) 12s. net. 



Many of our readers will recollect that the late 

 Mr. Seebohm spent two years in Siberia, chiefly 

 with the object of ascertaining the breeding places 

 of certain birds which nest within the Arctic Circle. 

 In 1875, in company with another well-known 

 ornithologist. Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown. he visited 

 the Valley of Petchora, and two years later accom- 

 plished a more lengthy and adventurous journey to 

 TeneseL The outcome of these travels was two 



occupied by Nature notes, but the second has the 

 additional interest of commercial-geographical 

 exploration in company with the well-known 

 Captain Wiggins, who in modern times has made 

 such strenuous efforts to develop the little-under- 

 stood trade which awaits with its riches the 

 enterprise of those who have the energy and capital 

 to bring the North Asiatic commerce into direct 

 touch with Britain. The illustrations are. as a 

 whole, excellent, and by the courtesy of the pub- 

 lisher we give a reproduction of one as an example. 

 Among them we mnst not omit reference to the 

 drawings, which appear as tail-pieces to the 



Little Stint's Xest. Eggs xsd Yocxg. 

 I From " Birdt of Siberia.") 



fascinating books with the respective titles of 

 •• Siberian Europe " and " Siberian A*ia. T ' Both 

 these works were soon out of print, and before his 

 death the author decided to combine them in one 

 volume. This is now before us. published with 

 ample and elegant illustrations by Mr. John Murray. 

 Those who read the two previous volumes will, we 

 feel sure, return to this re-issue with pleasant 

 memories. Notwithstanding its present title it 

 must not be imagined that the pages are devoted 

 entirely to bird life. They sparkle with quaint 

 incident of travel and curious lore relating to the 

 native Samoyede and other indigenous tribes oc- 

 cupying Northern Siberia and its tundras. The work 

 is divided inro two parts : 1. The Petchora Valley, 

 and 2. The Yenesei. The first portion is largely 



chapters, of a remarkable series of old Bus.-ian 

 Greek church crosses : a collection of which works 

 of art form some of the most valued portions of the 

 gatherings made by Mr. Seebohm in the remote and 

 only partially civilised regions of Northern Siberia 

 visited by him. 



Practical Electrician's Pocket Book. Edited by 

 H. T. Ceewe. E.I.M.E. Ixxiv + 198 pp., of in. x 

 3f in. Illustrated. (London: S.Eentell&Co., Ltd. 

 1901.) Is. 6d. 



The Electrician's Pocket Book for 1901 has 

 been much improved in this, its third years 

 issue. Some additional matter appears which in- 

 creases the usefulness of the book. The general 

 production of this useful little work is also more 

 satisfactory. 



