Notices of new books. 355 



smaller paper. The size, weight, and cost of the first edition 

 placed it far beyond the reach of many who would like to possess 

 it, if they could afford it ; and the handier form in which it 

 is now issued will admit of its being placed side by side with 

 other works upon kindred subjects on the ornithologist's book- 

 shelves. 



To avoid misconception, it may be stated for the benefit of 

 those who have not yet seen it, that this volume relates exclu- 

 sively to the Grouse family, and being illustrated by the author, 

 who is fortunately an artist as well as a sportsman, the subject 

 is most graphically treated. There are eighteen full-page plates, 

 and no less than thirty-seven text cuts, representing Capercaillie, 

 Blackgame, Grouse, and Ptarmigan, with their natural surround- 

 ings, besides many varieties and hybrids, some of which are 

 extremely curious. 



Mr. John Millais is one of those enthusiastic gunners who 

 goes out not merely to shoot, but to observe. He takes his 

 sketch-book as well as his cartridge-bag, and utilises the long 

 watches between the grouse-drives or roe-deer-drives, as the case 

 may be, by committing to paper some of the charming incidents 

 afforded by a day in the forest or on the moor. His pictures of 

 "Grouse resting" and "Grouse disturbed," "Blackgame amongst 

 the firs and larches," and " Blackgame Tournament," are abso- 

 lutely true to nature, while the accompanying descriptions show 

 how closely he has studied the habits and attitudes of his 

 feathered friends. 



Here is an observation on Capercaillie :— 



"On one occasion, at Murthly, I remember, when I was out by 

 myself, and the keepers beating some woods near the castle for an 

 old Roebuck which had escaped for several years, that I arrived at a 

 small pass at which I was to stand, whilst the men worked up in my 

 direction. Then I noticed the branches of a large Scotch fir, within a 

 few yards of the place where I was standing, swaying about in an 

 agitated manner. Thinking at first it was only a party of Squirrels, 

 which literally swarmed in the woods, I took no notice of it until at 

 length I saw the head of a bird I knew well, quietly nipping off the 

 young shoots at the ends of the branches. Putting down my gun, and 

 forgetting all about the Roebuck, I got into such a position that my 

 friend was out of sight behind the trunk of the tree, and crawled on 



