226 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
‘ studied the peculiarities of insular faunas can well be reminded 
that that of the Isle of Wight is a home lesson, and as our author 
remarks: ‘‘ Yet it is surely not quite devoid of interest that in 
that little outpost of England, separated from the New Forest and 
the most fishful rivers in the south country by a mere ditch, the 
woods should afford shelter to but few Owls and Woodpeckers, 
the streams hold neither Pike, nor Perch, nor Chub, nor Gudgeon ; 
that the Ring Ousel should abstain from breeding there; that the 
Toad should be commoner than the Frog, the Viper in excess of — 
the more harmless snake.” Again, among the many singular and © 
obscure causes which regulate or modify the presence of migratory 
species, an excellent example is drawn from the Channel Islands, 
where, according to Smith, ‘ Birds of Guernsey,’ ‘‘ since gin took — 
the place of cider as the national: beverage, the orchards have 
been abandoned, and the whole country is under vegetables for 
the early London market.” 
Mr. Aflalo is very conservative in the admission of visitant — 
species to our fauna. Thus he omits the Turtles from the list of 
British Vertebrates, and gives an instance of how these Chelonians ~ 
may have had a purely artificial introduction. He is, however, © 
somewhat obscure in the paragraph devoted to the Flying-fish, — 
which, we read, finds its way into our waters, if ever, at long 
intervals only; and subsequently that “there seems to be little | 
doubt of the occurrence of living examples on our south-west | 
coast.” The italics are our own. | 
It is impossible in our space to notice or summarize the main | 
details of the book, which are devoted to the Mammals, Birds, — 
Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, and Lowest Vertebrates—Lampreys | 
and Hag-fishes. The information thus given will prove useful to 
those who seek concise information in a convenient referential | 
manner, though it must be remembered that few writers are — 
sufficiently equipped to prevent some stumbles in so wide a 
purview of British Zoology. 
Two useful Appendices are given, which comprise “‘ Materials H 
for a Bibliography of Books on the British Vertebrate Fauna,’ — 
and ‘‘A List of Natural History Societies and Field Clubs in the | 
United Kingdom.” With reference to the first, and in relation — 
to the scanty literature on British Reptiles, mention should have | 
been made of the series of articles by the late Edward Newman in | 
‘The Zoologist’ for 1869. | 
