440 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



last month on abnormal tastes in the Cat is evidence of genuine 

 observation. 



The manner in which he deals with some of his subjects, 

 such as habits of homely domestic creatures like Fowls and 

 Pigs — so generally neglected by modern naturalists — reminds 

 one much of the inimitable style of J. G. Wood, a quotation 

 from whose admirable ' Illustrated Natural History ' faces the title- 

 page. The author's writing, indeed, has no need of the modest 

 apology contained in the preface, and although some of the 

 chapters may fairly be called " slight," it would be most unfair 

 thus to stigmatize the work as a whole. It is well got up, on 

 rough paper — so much pleasanter to look at than the modern 

 shiny stuff — and is not illustrated, l distinct point in its favour, 

 for the subjects do not call for illustration, and nothing gives a 

 more catchpenny aspect to a book thm pictures which do not 

 enlighten. 



The Wonders of Animal Life. By W. S. Bebkidge, F.Z.S. 



London : Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd. 



1915. 6s. net. 

 The illustrations, on the other hand, are the main feature in 

 Mr. Berridge's book; they number about a hundred, and, though 

 far too generally lacking in definition, and so not very useful 

 for giving an accurate idea of the mostly unfamiliar creatures 

 they naturally represent, are for the most part very good in pose, 

 testifying to plenty of patience on the part of the photographer. 

 Some of the best are those illustrating the courting or other 

 displays of birds ; besides the familiar " show " of the Peacock 

 and Turkey, we have here that of Peacock-Pheasant, Great Bird- 

 of-Paradise, Sun-Bittern, and Great Bustard. Good photo- 

 graphs of such rare animals as the Tuatera, Koyal Antelope, 

 Tasmanian " Wolf " and Devil, are also welcome. Mr. Berridge's 

 text is readable, though poor in style, and he covers a very wide 

 field in his compilations ; but he is sometimes deplorably care- 

 less, as when he calls the beaks of the Echidna and Platypus 

 appendages to the snout, whereas they are the snout itself, and 

 credits the male Apteryxes with being slightly larger than the 

 females, when they are really very considerably smaller. 



Errata. — Page 374, for " May" read " September." 



