192 



BOOK NOTICE. 



the tenth, 21 of green. The plain plates are devoted to representa- 

 tions of the various forms of markings found in describing birds. 

 Thus the eleventh plate represents a diagrammatic bird, showing the 

 naming of the various parts of the body and limbs ; and the twelfth 

 represents in the same way two birds' heads, the lower diagram 

 defining various markings and streaks. The thirteenth gives wings ; 

 the fourteenth and fifteenth, feathers and their markings ; and the 

 sixteenth represents the various forms assumed by eggs. The seven- 

 teenth plate is very useful to all naturalists, inasmuch as four 

 distinct scales of measurement (English inches and sixteenths ; 

 English inches and twentieths ; millimetres ; and French inches 

 and duodecimal lines) are shown in juxtaposition. 



The w^ork itself comprises two parts with subdivisions. After 

 an introduction, and a preface to Part L, the author treats on the 

 'principles of colour and general remarks,' defining. terms and pro- 

 posing a schedular arrangement. Next comes a practical chapter, 

 treating of the colours required by the zoological or botanical artist, 

 pointing out what pigments are sufficiently durable to be rehed upon, 

 and giving directions as to producing tints and shades by admixture. 

 A most useful comparative vocabulary of colours is next given, 

 showing the names of a vast number of shades in the English, Latin, 

 German, French, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, and Danish tongues. 

 The bibliography follows, and then comes a glossary of technical terms 

 used in descriptive ornithology. Finally, are given a series of useful 

 tables for the inter-conversion of millimetres and English inches. 



The book is intended to serve a practical end, and is therefore 

 distinctly and entirely practical in its character. It is exclusively 

 intended for naturalists as a standard of uniformity, and it is in 

 no sense whatever a work for physical or chemical investigators 

 of the subject. We are accordingly spared the dissertations and 

 speculations which we should naturally have expected in a book 

 upon the subject of colour in general. The work, therefore, com- 

 mands the sympathy and the respect of naturalists, to whom a 

 work on colour is but another tool with which to make their own 

 peculiar work more perfect. It is somewhat unfortunate that the 

 latter portion of the book should have been made to appear as 

 if it were exclusively or even specially intended for ornithologists, 

 and if the author had made it simply a glossary of terms in 

 natural history, it would have been no less useful to ornithologists 

 than it is now\ We may, however, point out to our readers that, 

 in spite of the seeming ornithological restriction, the very numerous 

 definitions of terms and markings, and the comparative tables of 

 measurements, are of universal application, and of great use to all 

 who have occasion to consult technical descriptions. Naturaibt, 



A^^W^^ ^ Jl^N 1887 



