320 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



On the whole the information given is fairly accurate, though 

 sometimes it does not go far enough. For example, the expression 

 " in suitable parts of Scotland " hardly indicates with sufficient 

 clearness the nesting haunts of the Wigeon. No doubt the 

 author has aimed at compression. He does not always name 

 the locality wherein the photograph of a nest and eggs was 

 taken, but when he does so, the information is very acceptable, 

 as, for example, when we read that in the case of the Twite the 

 photograph was taken " on a small island near Oban, where we 

 found several nests"; that the Shoveller, Pochard, Teal, and 

 Woodcock's nests were taken in Norfolk ; the Curlew's nest on 

 the Westmorland Hills ; that the Red-necked Phalarope nested 

 in the Orkneys in 1892 ; and that " two pairs of the Roseate 

 Tern succeeded in rearing their young at the Fame Islands in 

 the year 1894." A pretty illustration of Arctic Terns on their 

 nests at the Fame Islands faces p. 286, and the " typical Norfolk 

 Duck Mere" (p. 214) is good. 



The illustrations on the whole are excellent, the outlines being 

 well denned, and the subjects well chosen. Those which illustrate 

 the nesting of the Curlew, the Stone Curlew, the Red-breasted 

 Merganser, the Gannet, and the Red-throated Diver (the last- 

 named procured in the Outer Hebrides), are especially to be 

 commended. The difficulty experienced in taking photographs 

 of some of the nests was occasionally very great, especially 

 when the wind happened to cause a vibration of the camera, or a 

 movement of the leaves or sedges amongst which the nest was 

 placed. But the energy and perseverance of the authors in most 

 cases triumphed, and the result oftentimes exceeded their ex- 

 pectations. To realise the adverse conditions under which the 

 camera had to be brought into position, the reader would do 

 well to peruse the preface, in which some of the authors' ad- 

 ventures are graphically described. The value of the plates 

 in many cases has thus become enhanced by reason of the 

 difficulty of obtaining them. 



If we have one fault to find, it is with the highly-glazed paper 

 on which the book is printed. Not only is this very trying to the 

 eyes from the strong light which it reflects, but from the white 

 lead which it contains, it adds considerably to the weight of 

 the volume. 



