160 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



Mr. Fowler's chapter on Gilbert White of Selborne appears 

 to us less opportune at the present moment than when written to 

 remind his readers of the approaching centenary anniversary of 

 that author's death. It falls just a little flat, because we have 

 so recently been reminded, in other words, of much which he has 

 now reprinted. 



In his chapter " On the Songs of Birds " we have something 

 fresher, and his appendix " On the Vocal Organs of Singing Birds" 

 (with a plate) embodies the most scientific portion of the book. 

 The quality which Aristotle did not possess—out-of-door obser- 

 vation — is Mr. Fowler's forte ; and whether we accompany him 

 to the Engstlen Alp, wander with him through the wilder parts 

 of Wales, or be seated upon the grassy slope of Bindon Hill, where 

 the air is sweet with thyme, to view below us the grey and misty 

 sea washing the base of the Dorset downs, we enjoy the com- 

 panionship of an intellectual guide who has always something of 

 interest to impart. 



Catalogue of the Birds of Prey (Accipitres and Strlges) ; with the 

 number of Specimens in the Norwich Museum. By J. H. 

 Gurney. 8vo, pp. 56. London : R. H. Porter. 1894. 



Since the death of the author's father in April, 1890, a good 

 many additions have been made to his ' List of the Diurnal Birds 

 of Prey.' From Mr. Keeve'sMS. Catalogue of the species in the 

 Norwich Museum, and from notes in the late Mr. Gurney's 

 interleaved copy of his own work, as well as from ' The Ibis ' and 

 other sources of information, Mr. J. H. Gurney has now com- 

 pleted and issued a volume with the title given above, which we 

 have no doubt will be found extremely useful. In addition to the 

 revised lists of Accipitres and Striges, there is also a list of Mr. 

 Gurney's principal papers on Raptorial Birds in order of date, 

 one of which, for convenience in regard to size and consequent 

 accessibility, is reprinted from the quarto pages of the ' Trans- 

 actions of the Zoological Society,' 1865. 



As a frontispiece we find an admirable likeness of the late 

 Mr. Gurney, and the volume is further illustrated with two 

 double-page charts, showing the respective distribution of the 

 Vulturidce and of the genus Scops, the largest and most uni- 

 versally distributed genus of any in the order Striges. 



