NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 387 



ultimately vanish ; though the worst destruction of eggs by 

 human agency is, we are thoroughly convinced, occasioned by 

 the boys of the village. 



Mr. Pike's photographing-ground has been principally North 

 Middlesex and South Hertfordshire, and he has in this artistic 

 and harmless occupation acquired a very large experience of birds 

 and their ways, which he has related in a small but charmingly 

 illustrated book. The successful placing of the camera is largely 

 dependent on the habits of his "sitters," and not only the nest 

 but the whole environment is reproduced on his plates. We read 

 with regret the usual story of vanishing species from once frequent 

 haunts. He remembers "the time when it was possible to see a 

 Sparrow-Hawk almost any day in our North Middlesex fields ; 

 but now a specimen is only seen at very long intervals; for, 

 although I am constantly abroad in the open air, it is over a year 

 since I saw one of these fine birds on the wing." And again : — 

 " Not very many years ago the Raven used to breed in our inland 

 counties ; and not far from my home there still stands a tree in 

 which the last pair of these birds built their nest in Middlesex." 



Although the collector becomes callous — and we plead guilty 

 to the impeachment — most will regret the truth contained in 

 Mr. Pike's narrative concerning the Sky-lark: — "It is pathetic 

 to hear, as I have done, how this bird, which makes the country- 

 side so enjoyable, will suddenly stop in the midst of its beautiful 

 song when its nest far below is being robbed of its eggs. I was 

 once a witness of this phenomenon, and felt sad as well as 

 indignant." It is probable that the greatest mystery of life is its 

 sorrow; but with birds the camera will not increase it. 



As regards the beauty of the illustrations, we can refer to 

 those reproduced in the present number in connection with Mr. 

 Gurney's paper. 



Bird Gods. By Charles de Kay. With an Accompaniment of 

 Decorations by G. W. Edwards. Harry R. Allenson. 



The aim of this book is apparently to assert " the influence 

 of birds and beasts on what may be called prehistoric religion," 

 as against the more prevalent hypothesis that the planets, their 

 satellites, and other natural phenomena have induced this specu- 



