NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 239 



produce others in their turn. Hence the monstrosities which are 

 exhibited. Cochins are one mass of useless feather ; game hens 

 stand a foot or more from the ground ; Houdans, Crevecceurs, 

 and Polish are bred with tufts so large that they can scarcely see 

 to feed ; and so on with other varieties. 



Mr. Tegetmeier compares fowls as they were with fowls as 

 they are, and shows that for agricultural and economical purposes 

 the modern fancy breeds are useless, as contrasted with the older 

 varieties. He considers that Agricultural Societies are doing 

 more harm than good by offering prizes for useless birds, and 

 ignoring to a great extent the birds which would be of more 

 benefit to the farmer and to the nation at large. 



Songs of Universal Life. By Rev. Marcus S. C. Rickards, M.A., 

 F.L.S., Vicar of Twigworth, Gloucester. 8vo, pp. 144. 

 London: J. Baker & Son. 1891. 



Readers of * The Zoologist' will remember the author of 

 this little volume of poems as a successful shore-shooter in North 

 Devon, who was lucky enough to secure such rarities as the 

 Pectoral Sandpiper and the American Stint. It is because Bird- 

 Life enters very largely into the " Universal Life " which forms 

 the subject of his poems that we make his book the subject of 

 a short notice, feeling persuaded that we are doing well in 

 calling the attention of lovers of birds to the very graceful lines 

 he has devoted to some of their favourites. We may especially 

 commend the Ode to a Reed Warbler, and some others 

 dedicated to a Bullfinch, and to a pair of Ring Ouzels. There 

 is also a poem entitled " Nature's Cycle," which we think is a 

 description of a Devonshire lane leading down to the coast 

 which is not unknown to us. We quote the three first stanzas of 

 the little poem inscribed to the Pair of Ring Ouzels :— 



"A deep and solemn silence broods 

 Over the breezy solitudes 

 Whereon the mountaineer intrudes 



To crown a summer climb : 

 The soaring lark, a dreamy bee, 

 A pipit twittering from the lea, 

 Beguiled the journey, but no glee 



Disturbs the peak sublime. 



