400 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



even then it must be remembered that when a hawk is in the air, 

 a warning note from the old hen grouse causes her young, if near 

 her, to shelter under her wings, or if at a little distance to squat 

 and hide in the heather till the danger is past . 



The usual prey of the Merlin consists of Linnets, Stonechats, 

 and Meadow Pipits on the moors, and Larks, Buntings, and other 

 small birds on the lower and cultivated grounds. On the coast 

 it may be seen in pursuit of a Dunlin or other small Sandpiper ; 

 but in no instance do we remember to have seen it with prey 

 larger and stronger than itself, as a grouse undoubtedly is. 



By a curious coincidence, while these pages were passing 

 through the press, we received from a correspondent in Ireland 

 a fine female Merlin, which had just been shot while in pursuit 

 of a Martin. We at once placed it in the scales, and found it 

 to weigh a trifle under 7 oz. A Ked Grouse in good condition 

 will weigh 28 oz., or just four times as much. 



The statement (p. 16) that " Christopher North is the only 

 writer who has done justice to Owls" argues a limited acquaint- 

 ance with ornithological literature, or a somewhat defective 

 memory ; otherwise the name of Waterton (amongst many others) 

 could hardly escape mention in connection with this bird. 



Nor is it only in such shortcomings as these that this book is 

 a disappointing one. The chapter on "White Wild Cattle, for 

 example, not only contains nothing new, but, compared with the 

 Report recently furnished by a Committee of the British Associa- 

 tion (' Zoologist/ 1887), it is singularly meagre and unsatisfactory. 

 Two misprints, by the way, occur in the opening sentence, where 

 "Bidding and Viangse" should, of course, be "Blickling and 

 Vaynol." 



These signs of hasty compilation and general want of accuracy 

 considerably detract from what is otherwise a very pleasantly 

 written and nicely printed volume. 



Mr. Lodge's sketches of " the Peregrine's Eyrie," " the end 

 of a Sparrowhawk," " the Golden Eagle," and " Snow Buntings," 

 which have been carefully lithographed by Mr. L. Hutchinson, 

 make pretty and appropriate illustrations. 



