NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 435 



of an ignorant reader for whom the book might have been made 

 still more useful than it is. 



The " Introductory Remarks," however (pp. 1 — 6), and the 

 " General Anatomical Characters " (pp.7 — 81) leave nothing to 

 be desired, being full, clear, and instructive. The same may be 

 said of the diagnoses of the families and genera. The weak point, 

 if we may venture to say so, lies in what relates to the life-history 

 of the species, and, where want of space forbids quotation, the 

 absence of a reference to a reliable source of information ; though 

 we must admit that in some cases this is supplied. 



A Vertebrate Fauna of the Orkney Islands. By T. E. Buckley 

 and J. A. Harvie Brown. 8vo, pp. i — xxiv, 1 — 314. Edin- 

 burgh : David Douglas. 1891. 



To the valuable series of faunal works relating to Scotland 

 and the Isles, already issued by him, Mr. Harvie Brown, with the 

 aid of Mr. Buckley, has during the present year added a delightful 

 volume on Orkney. Historical, topographical, zoological, and 

 pictorial, it is just the book for a naturalist contemplating a 

 visit to these remote islands. 



Dealing with their past history and condition from reliable 

 sources of information, their present aspect and natural produc- 

 tions are described from the authors' personal experience. The 

 mammals and birds which have died out, or have become replaced 

 by other species better able to exist under the conditions of their 

 environment ; the fishes that furnish food to the sturdy islanders ; 

 the "waifs and strays" that chance has wafted to that treeless 

 home have all been made the subject of patient investigation, 

 and have furnished material for most interesting chapters. 



We have first some remarks on the geographical position 

 of the Orkney Islands and their physical features. These are 

 followed by descriptions of the North Isles, Western Isles, the 

 Mainland, Shapinsay and Copinsay, the South Isles, Stack 

 and Skerry, and the Pentland Skerries. Then follow detailed 

 Catalogues of the Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and 

 Fishes. 



A map of the Islands, and a dozen or more illustrations, 

 reproduced from excellent photographs, add much to the 



