NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 331 



in hand, in quest of wild beasts in a wild country. To the 

 zoological reader the crack of the rifle and the details of the 

 death of the victim are perhaps rather too much in evidence; we 

 would rather have more particulars of the animal's life than 

 description of the method of his quitting it. However, all learn- 

 ing is by much travail, zoology not being an exception to the 

 rule ; and the careful reader will find very many natural history 

 records not obtainable elsewhere, many corroborations of tra- 

 ditional statements, and some corrections of hearsay information. 

 Thus we read of the Crocodiles as found near Chinde : — " They 

 may often be seen lying fast asleep on the sand-banks with their 

 jaws open ; and the disputed fact can be verified by any observer 

 with a pair of field-glasses, that the Spur-winged Plovers not 

 only warn the Crocodiles of the approach of danger by their 

 plaintive cries, but act as tooth-picks for the saurians, picking 

 out what are evidently considered dainty bits from between the 

 great teeth." 



An Appendix of Zoological Field Notes concludes the volume. 

 Mr. Kirby is as a rule unable to detect any difference between 

 the Lion of Central and that of South Africa, though he thinks 

 "male Lions with dark skins (dark grey or brown shaded) and 

 full black or blackish brown manes occur less frequently north 

 than south of the Zambesi." Seasonal colouration appears to 

 obtain in the Eland (Taurotragus oryx). "The colour of Elands 

 in Central Africa varies much in individuals, especially in the 

 winter time, when many shades of yellow, dun, and tawny may 

 be observed, as well as darker shades inclining to deep slate- 

 colour amongst the old bulls. During the rains, when their 

 hides are sleeker, a tawny dun predominates among the cows 

 and young animals, while the bulls become darker." This is a 

 book in which much interesting information will be never used, 

 as it lacks an index. 



