440 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



does he bring forward as evidence of the influence of sexual selection 

 on these birds ? He gives a detailed account of the links which 

 connect the extreme dark and the extreme pale colouring, and from 

 this he concludes that sexual selection must have been at work. But is 

 not this " mere supposition "? for the ascertained facts are too meagre 

 to favour either natural or sexual selection. Does not Mr. Selous 

 advocate the latter because at the outset he was " a believer in the 

 reality of that power " ? 



It is to be hoped that Mr. Selous will write a paper on sexual 

 selection, giving in support of that theory examples of actual choice 

 in sexual matters as observed by himself in wild nature. 



May I point out a slight slip in his choice of words ? Would it not 

 be preferable to speak of this species as polymorphic rather than multi- 

 morphous ? — W. Stores Fox (St. Anselm's, Bakewell). 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



I have in preparation a catalogue of the vertebrate animals of 

 Oxfordshire, and should be grateful for any information relating to the' 

 occurrence in the county of the following species : — Harvest Mouse, 

 Dormouse, Black Bat, Lesser Shrew, Bank-Vole, Polecat (recent occur- 

 rences), Viper, Lizard, Sand-Lizard, Palmate Newt, Natterjack Toad, 

 Crucian Carp, Rudd, Bream, White Bream, Grayling, Barbel. — 0. V. 

 Aplin (Bloxham, Oxon). 



