144 
The Irish Natufa/isi. 
June. 
REVIEWS. 
IRISH AND BRITISH BEASTS. 
A History of British Mammals. By Gerald E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, 
B.A. (Cantab), M.R.I. A., F.Z.S. London : Gurney and Jackson. 
Parts V. to XV. 
It is only with a sense of deep sadness that a reviewer can address 
himself to the writing of a brief notice of the more recently published 
parts (V. to XV., inclu.sive) of the work that Major Barrett -Hamilton 
has not been spared to carry further. The characteristic style and manner 
of the author are so noticeable on every page that he seems to start into 
life as we follow his careful study of the spoor of the Irish Hare, his valuable 
notes on that animal's seasonal colour -change, or the concise yet elaborate 
dissertation in which he treats of the slow approach to accuracy that 
has been made in distinguishing the many genera, species and sub-species 
of that generally unpopular family the Murida;. The beautiful drawings 
and coloured plates by the hand of Edward Adrian Wilson mu.st excite 
similar feelings in the minds of many. Of these, however, wc ma^- expect 
to see many more as the progress of the work continues, for it is stated 
in Major Barrett -Hamilton's fine appreciation of his friend the lost artist 
which appears as a preface to Part XIV. that only " a few drawings were 
still wanting to finish the scheme " when Wilson started on his fatal 
expedition to the Antarctic. It would scarcely be possible to find a more 
pleasing specimen of his skill as an animal painter than the picture of 
the South Orkney Grass Mice (or Voles, if we may still make an occasional 
use of a name which Major Barrett -Hamilton has found it necessary to 
discard from zoological use) appearing in the same part with the 
announcement of "his death. 
The parts that have appeared since a previous review' comprise the 
last sub-division of the Bats (Rhinolophidae), the Insectivora, " and that 
comparatively small section of the Rodents (Duplicidentata) whose only 
present representatives in the British Islands are the Hares and Rabbits 
(Leporidae). In the latest parts we just touch the fringe of the Simplici- 
dentata, reaching the genera Muscardinus, Evotomys, and Microtus. 
Of the animals dealt with only five are species occurring in Ireland. 
These are the Lesser Horse -shoe Bat, Hedgehog, Pygmy Shrew, Rabbit, 
and Irish Hare. It is well known that the last -mentioned of these 
animals had long been a subject of special interest to the author, who 
was favourably situated for observing its ways, and his account of it 
could not be surpassed for accuracy and care. Major Barrett -Hamilton 
has no hesitation about assigning it full specific rank, givipg his reason 
as follows : — 
" The Irish Hare is given full specific rank because it is a completely 
isolated form of considerable antiquity, which owes its survival to 
preservation from competition in an insulated area ; it is absolutely- 
distinguishable at a glance from its nearer relatives, with which it cannot 
' Irish Nat., vol. xx., pp. 86-7. 
