26 
The Irish Naturalist. 
January, 
British Birds : Description of all the Commoner Species, their Nests and 
Eggs. By F. B. Kirkman, B.A., Oxon. Illustrated by A. W, 
Seaby. (The People's Books). London & Edinburgh. T. C. and 
E. C. Jack. Price 6d. 
We cannot complain of the want of cheap guide-books to the study 
of British birds, when we have before us the excellent little sixpenny manual 
which Mr. Kirkman — one of our best ornithological authorities — has 
contributed to the " People's Books " series. Illustrated with copious 
wood -cuts due to the skilled hand of Mr. Seaby, it should enable the 
beginner to recognise at sight most of the common birds that he is likely 
to meet in any part of the British Islands. The plumage, nest, and eggs 
of each species are accurately — though, of course, briefly — described, 
and the geographical range within the Britannic area is in all cases at least 
roughly outlined. The brevity of the references to Ireland would, how- 
ever, make it absolutely incumbent on any Irish beginner using Mr. 
Kirkman's book to check it with frequent reference to the " List of Irish 
Birds " drawn up for the Museum by Mr. Ussher. Otherwise he might 
be left under the erroneous impression that the Jay is a bird of general 
occurrence in Irish woods, and that the Stonechat is scarcely so common 
a bird with us as the Whinchat. The phrase "exceptional in Ireland," 
as applied to the Short -eared Owl, strikes us as rather vague, but seems, 
from its context, to imply that this owl has bred here, of which we have 
no evidence. The description of the Tree-Pipit as "absent Ireland," 
has, of course, ceased to be strictly accurate since the book was sent to 
press ; and of the elasticity of the phrase " rare in Ireland " it may suffice 
to say that Mr. Kirkman applies it alike to the Green Woodpecker and to 
the Kingfisher. But these arc matters of no moment, unless to an Irish 
tyro who neglects to avail himself of the opportunities at his doors. The 
classification followed is that used in the " British Bird -Book," edited 
by the author of this little manual. 
C. B. M. 
IRISH SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Recent gifts include a Kabbit from Miss Egan, a number of Guinea- 
pigs from Mr. A. Miller, a pair of Swans from Mr. W. M. Murphy, and 
two Barn Owls from Miss G. and Mr. R. Armstrong. 
The pair of American Bison given by the Canadian Government are 
now on view in an extensive paddock that has been opened up close to 
the entrance gate, so that these interesting animals — no specimen of which 
has been on view in Dublin for nearly twenty years — are the first seen 
by visitors coming into the gardens. 
