NOTICES 



OF NEW 



BOOKS. 



35 



its kind to give a sound and general knowledge of our avi- 

 fauna to those who, not being " scientific ornithologists," wish 

 to acquire a first-hand information from the birds themselves. 

 It is a handsome volume, and should have a wide circulation 

 among the readers to whom it is addressed. 



It is, however, a question whether the " novel feature in the 

 omission of the names of the authorities and observers of the 

 facts recorded in this volume " is a good one. It is justified on 

 the ground " that when a statement has once been published it 

 becomes public property." This argument is undeniable, but at 

 the same time there are observers and observers, and observa- 

 tions that have been verified and found not unusual, and others 

 that rest on a single record ; while the names of some recorders 

 carry more authority than do those of others. 



A List of Irish Birds. By Richard J. Ussher, M.R.I. A., 

 M.B.O.U. A. Thorn & Co., Dublin. 



When a list of Irish Birds is prepared by Mr. Ussher it 

 possesses an authoritative value, more especially when each 

 species is accompanied by a note on its status and other concise 

 but interesting particulars. The first list of Irish Birds was 

 compiled by the late A. G. More in 1885, and though a second 

 edition appeared in 1890, according to Dr. Scharif in the preface, 

 twenty-six other species have since been obtained which had not 

 previously been observed in Ireland. In his introduction Mr. 

 Ussher gives a list of twenty-eight species recorded from Ireland 

 since More's list of 1890, but of these five are placed in square 

 brackets, denoting " claim to admission is insufficient." Species 

 with a "M" attached denotes that they are "represented 

 in the Irish Collection of the Museum," whilst other signs dis- 

 tinguish those that either breed in Ireland or do so in every 

 county. 



In these days of expensive ornithological publications it is 

 significant that this list with its imprimatur of authority and 

 condensed information can be purchased for the small amount 

 of fourpence ! 



