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NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



The Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union. Pretoria. 

 Annals of the Natal Government Museum. Part I. Adlard & Son, 

 London. 



The South African region, as now understood by zoologists, 

 was, in the days of our adolescence, principally described in the 

 narratives of geographical and natural history explorers, among 

 whom we may mention the names of Burchell, Livingstone, and 

 Holub. Then came a period of gold-hunting, and the records 

 of the Stock Exchange constituted the most popular gazetteer. 

 For a time it was the world- watched scene of military operations. 

 Even so recently as a decade since we left South African shores, 

 there was, apart from Cape Town, little scientific enterprize, 

 and the South African Philosophical Society may be said to 

 have held the field. Since then the advance has been pheno- 

 menal, especially in a country where the race for wealth has 

 almost become an ideal aim. Kecently both the South African 

 and Grahamstown Museums have published their Annals, and 

 the Natal Museum has now followed their example. 



An active and growing Natural History Club exists in the once 

 "golden city" of Johannesburg, and, what is still more note- 

 worthy, there is now a " South African Ornithologists' Union," 

 well established, ably directed, and enthusiastically supported. 

 Of the latter, we now possess vol. i., and part 1 of vol. ii. ; of 

 the Durban publication, the first part has recently reached our 

 hands. Both these publications have come to stay, and are well 

 worth the attention of all naturalists. Not only do they foster 

 and promote the study of zoology in our South African colonies, 

 but they afford a means of publication of very much valuable 

 information which our central societies would clearly be unable 

 to supply. 



The presidency of the South African Ornithologists' Union 

 was originally held by Mr. W. L. Sclater, who has now left South 



