NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 439 



" Some species, such as the Purple Sandpiper and Black Redstart, are 

 common in the south-western part of Devon, and are rare in the eastern 

 portion. Others, like the Common Redstart, Turtle Dove and Sanderling, 

 are more frequently met with in eastern Devon than in the south and west. 

 Again, the Pied Flycatcher, Twite and Wood Sandpiper are almost un- 

 known in the south, but are not unfrequent in the north of the county ; 

 and some, as the Oystercatcher and Puffin, are far more plentiful on the 

 north coast than on the south ; whilst, on the other hand, Geese, some 

 kinds of Ducks, and Terns, appear more frequently on the south coast than 

 in the northern part of Devon. 



" About thirty-four species, mostly accidental wanderers from the conti- 

 nent of Europe, have occurred in South Devon, which have not yet been 

 recorded from North Devon, and eight species, mostly American, have been 

 observed in the northern part of the county which have not been procured 

 in the south. 



" Some species come in flights at more or less distant intervals of time, 

 such as the Crossbill, Sand Grouse, Quail, Bittern, Snowy Owl, Rough- 

 legged Buzzard, Grey Phalarope, Skuas, &c, their occurrence at other 

 times being rare ; so that it is obviously important that the dates of such 

 events should be carefully recorded." 



These and other considerations have led the authors of the 

 present volume to take a high standpoint in their survey of the 

 county avifauna, with the result that the subject has been treated 

 with a fulness and thoroughness which is highly satisfactory. 



The Introduction, which extends to over eighty pages, deals 

 first with the geographical position and physical aspect of 

 Devon, including detailed descriptions of Dartmoor, the South 

 Hams and Slapton Ley, East Devon, North Devon with the 

 estuaries of the Taw and Torridge, Braunton Burrows and the 

 cliffs, and Lundy Island, of which a nice photograph is given, 

 showing the rocks covered with seafowl as in the nesting season. 

 Next we have a section on " changes in the county ornis," in 

 which some curious facts are stated as to the increase of some 

 species, and the disappearance, or diminution in numbers, of 

 others. In a succeeding section on " the faunistic position of 

 species," we learn that 292 species are included in the Devon- 

 shire ornis, and that no less than 29 have been excluded in con- 

 sequence of their occurrence having been incorrectly recorded, or 

 because it rested upon insufficient evidence. One hundred and 

 fourteen breed annually in the county, namely, 84 residents 

 and 30 summer visitors ; while half-a-dozen winter migrant 



