NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 197 



clutch of nine, as recorded in this Journal (1912, p. 427). A pair 

 of these birds have now visited Hensol for the last four years, and I 

 think it probable that the same pair of birds have laid these two 

 large clutches. On April 18th, on wading out to the nest, I found 

 that it was empty, so that an egg must have been laid daily from 

 that date, and the clutch, although large, may not have been com- 

 plete. There was no decrease in the size of the eggs last laid, which 

 could be distinguished by being less stained than the others. I have 

 found two Moorhens' nests this year containing fifteen and twelve 

 eggs within sixty yards of each other. By the appearance of the 

 eggs both clutches were laid by a single female. 



The Blackcap is much commoner than the Garden- Warbler in 

 this district. Tbe Lesser Whitethroat is rather a scarce bird here, 

 and I have only found it nesting once. — F. Norton (69, Whitchurch 

 Boad, Cardiff). 



NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



Report on Cetacea Stranded on the British Coasts during 1913. 

 By S. F. Harmer, Se.D., F.R.S. Printed by Order of the 

 Trustees of the British Museum. 



This Beport and others that will subsequently appear must 

 prove to be of the greatest importance to British zoology. The 

 Board of Trade in 1912 decided to issue a circular to all 

 Receivers of Wrecks instructing them to send telegraphic infor- 

 mation to the British Museum of the stranding of Whales. The 

 records of 193 3, thus procured, with the exception of three 

 obtained during 1911 and 1912, form the substance of this 

 Report. 



The number of Whales, Dolphins, &c, reported during 1913 

 was seventy-six, though the number given cannot be regarded 

 as completely accurate, because evidence has been forthcoming 

 that some of the specimens originally reported as " Porpoises " 

 have really been Sharks. A definite determination of the species 

 has been found possible in only a small proportion of the cases. 

 This has generally been based on the examination of the entire 



