BOOK NOTICE : NOTES AND NEWS. 



BOOK NOTICE. 



The Birds of Lancashire. — By F. S. Mitchell, M.B.O.U. Illustrated 

 by J. G. Keulemans, Victor Prout, &c. •London : John Van Voorst. 1885. 

 A book on the avifauna of a maritime county of North-Western England or of 

 Wales has long been a desideratum among our fauna! works, and it is somewhat 

 singular that the counties from the Bristol Channel to the Solway Firth have so long 

 lacked histories of their bird life. Thanks, however, to Mr. Mitchell, the County 

 Palatine no longer lies under the stigma of being behind the times in this respect, 

 and it is to be sincerely congratulated in possessing an ornithologist of his high 

 standard to undertake so important a work for a county which occupies such an 

 interesting geographical position. The book has been worked out upon the lines 

 on which a modern faunal work should be modelled, and its plan has been carried 

 out with commendable thoroughness. The author has devoted many years to the 

 study of the birds of the county wherein he resides, and in addition to his own great 

 knowledge of his favourite subject, he has laid under conti-ibution the whole of the 

 bibliographical matter relating to it — no small task. The result is a book in every 

 way worthy of its author and of the great county, and one that will take the highest 

 rank among works of its kind. From the introductory remarks we learn that the 

 avifauna of Lancashii-e comprises 250 species, of which 85 are residents, 31 summer 

 visitants, 65 winter visitants, and 75 occasional visitants. In addition to general 

 information as to distribution and relative abundance, concerning each of these 

 species, much interesting information is given on the breeding habits, times of 

 appearance, and local names — the experience of the author; also figures and 

 descriptions of the Lancashire decoys, and of the various engines and schemes in 

 vogue in the county for the capture of its feathered denizens. A map of Lancashire 

 is given, and coloured plates of the Wall Creeper and the Black-throated Wheatear 

 — Lancashire rarities — drawn by Mr. J. G. Keulemans, the celebrated bird-artist, 

 add much to the attractiveness of the book. As it is a book in which we our- 

 selves are much interested, we hope shortly to return to its consideration in these 

 pages. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



We are pleased to note that the Rev. VV. W. Fowler, M.A. , F.L.S., of Lincoln, 

 has joined the editorial staff of the Entoiiiologisis' Monthly Magazine^ thus filling 

 the vacancy left by the lamented early decease of Mr. E. C Rye. 



>oo< 



The eleventh annual report of the Leeds Geological Association, presented to 

 the annual meeting at the end of June, shows that the Association is in a most 

 flourishing state. The members generally have taken more interest in its various 

 operations, resulting in mutual benefit and advancement of the science the 

 Association exclusively pursues. The membership shows a substantial increase, 

 and the papers read during the past year have been of a high standard. Field 

 work is strictly necessary for the life of any geological association ; if this branch 

 is neglected, the members gain no practical experience of the manifold operations 

 of nature, they lose their interest in the science, and retrogression at once com- 

 mences. This has not been the case with the Leeds Association ; the field 

 excursions have been numerous, the localities varied and most carefully chosen, 

 whilst the leaders have been able and practical. . Such efforts have had their 

 merited success, the attendance at both meetings and excursions being much greater 

 than for many years past; the largest average, we believe, in the history of the 

 Association. We are glad to say that the Association has now become known outside 

 local limits, and occupies an honourable position amongst the geological societies 

 in the provinces. At the annual meeting the following gentlemen M'ere elected as 

 the executive for the year 1885-6 : — President, Mr. T. W. Bell (re-eTected) ; vice- 

 presidents, Messrs. W. Cheetham, B. Holgate, F.G.S., C. D. Hardcastle, and 

 T. H. Gray; hon. treasurer, J. H. Bromley (re-elected); Council, Professor 

 A. H. Green, M.A., F.G.S., and Messrs. J. H. Monckman, D.Sc, J. E. Bedford, 

 W. Hodgson Gill, and C. Brownridge ; and Mr, S. A. Adamson, F.G.S., to 

 vi^hom much of the recent success of the Association is due, was re-elected as hou. 

 secretary. ^Nltur^t 



