524 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



omitted. Many field observations require to be canonised by 

 repetition, whilst a habit or characteristic, resting on a record 

 beyond question, may still prove to be but an individual occur- 

 rence based on a local circumstance. We cannot have too many 

 of these records; they are generally valuable and always sug- 

 gestive, but the task of sifting and arranging them, of focussing 

 the important, and not altogether discarding the less pro- 

 minent, requires a master-hand. Dr. Sharpe, in the opening 

 sentence of his Preface, remarks : — " Every ornithologist who, in 

 the course of his career, may be called upon to write a book 

 upon British Birds, will always find this to be one of the most 

 interesting, but certainly one of the most difficult tasks which he 

 has ever undertaken. He is sure to discover that not only is the 

 path well-worn, but that the work of his many predecessors has 

 been so well done that little chance of originality remains to him." 

 The rule may be true, but this work is certainly an exception to it. 



Our author commences with the Passeriformes, and places at 

 their bead the family Corvidae, for which he gives his reasons.* 

 The Aceipitres are divided into two sub -orders — Pandiones for 

 the Ospreys ; and Falcones, which " includes every Accipitrine 

 bird except the Ospreys and the Owls." Geese, Swans, and 

 Ducks (Anseriformes) precede the Herons, Storks, and Ibises 

 (Ardeiformes). Cranes (Gruiformes) follow, and then the 

 Bustards and Plovers (Charadiformes), the Thick-knees being 

 considered Bustard-like Plovers " and forming the connecting- 

 link with the True Plovers." Gulls (Lariformes), which, " though 

 at first sight very different in appearance from the Plovers, are 

 really allied to them, "precede the Petrels (Procellariiformes), 

 which are followed by the Divers (Colymbiformes), Grebes 

 (Podicipedidiformes), and the Rails (Ralliformes). The 

 Pigeons (Columbiformes), the Sand Grouse (Pterocletes), 

 and the Game-birds (Galliformes) conclude the series. 



A very thorough method is pursued throughout. The genus 

 is shortly described by its principal structural characters, and 

 its geographical distribution detailed. Each species is dealt with 

 in sections, and is described under the stages of " Adult Male," 

 " Adult Female," and " Young." Then we find its " Range in 

 Great Britain," followed by what is much rarer in hand-books, 

 * Vide ' The Zoologist,' 1894, p. 470. 



