THE OKNITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 163 



Descriptions of the Rajjacious Birds of Britain ; by William 

 Macgillivbay. 9s. 1836. 



This work contains some interesting particulars 

 relating to the British Preyers, though the author's 

 style is far from being so pleasant as might be wished ; 

 he has now and then endeavoured to imitate that of 

 Audubon, (to which author the book is dedicated) but 

 with what success the reader shall judge for himself: 

 the extract shall be taken from the history of the 

 Common or Blue Harrier :• — " Should we on a fine 

 summer day, betake us to the outfields bordering an 

 extensive moor, on the sides of the Pentland, the 

 Ochill, or the Peebles Hills, we might chance to see 

 the Harrier, though Hawks [the Falcon family] have 

 been so much persecuted, that one may sometimes 

 travel a whole day without meeting so much as a 

 Kestril. But we are now wandering among thickets 

 of furze and broom, where the Blue Milkwort, the 

 Purple Pinguicula, the Yellow Violet, the Spotted 

 Orchis, and all the other plants that render the 

 desert so delightful to the strolling botanist, peep 

 forth in modest beauty from their beds of green 

 moss. The Golden Plover, stationed on a little 

 knoll, on which he has just alighted, gives out his 

 shrill note of anxiety, for he has come not to 

 welcome us to his retreats, but if possible to prevent 

 us from approaching them, or at least to decoy us 

 from his brood ; the Lapwing, on broad and dusky 

 wing, hovers and plunges over head, chiding us with 



