256 • JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pleasantly written and shows a very thorough personal knowledge of the 

 birds and their haunts. The introduction contains a list showing the 

 birds that are resident, those that are summer migrants, those that are 

 winter visitors, those seen on migration, and those only occasionally or 

 accidentally visiting the district. 



Each chapter starts with the local names by which each bird is known, 

 its distribution in Britain, and its distribution within fifteen miles of 

 St, Paul's. 



The foods, habits, and notes of the birds are described, as well as the 

 appearance of the adults and nestlings. The illustrations of the bird, 

 some in colour, others in black and white, are by Mr. John Duncan, of 

 Newcastle, and though mcst of them are small they are very well drawn 

 and life-like. More might have been said of making artificial nesting 

 boxes in the London parks to encourage certain birds nesting there. 

 The book is one of the most interesting on birds we have had the 

 pleasure of reading. 



"Birds Useful and Birds Harmful." By Otto Herman (Director of 

 the Royal Hungarian Ornithological Bureau, Budapest) and J. A. 

 Owen, illustrated by T. Csorgey. 8vo., 387 pp. (University Press, 

 Manchester, 1909.) 6s. net. 



This book is divided into the following chapters : 1. Useful or Harm- 

 ful. 2. Structure of the Bird. 3. Workers on the Ground. 4. In the 

 Air and on the Trees. 5. The Farmer's Summer Friends. 6. Workers 

 all the Year round. 7. Some Wildfowl. 8. Some of the Falconidae. 

 9. The Rational Protection of Birds. 



The origin and work of the Hungarian Central Office for Ornithology 

 is briefly described. It starts with the idea that nature itself knows 

 neither useful nor injurious birds, but only necessary ones, which have 

 developed according to the natural laws, and on the basis of their 

 development are performing in the world of nature the work which i| 

 appropriate to their organization. Where nature is intact, the number of 

 birds is automatically regulated in accordance with the natural development 

 of their surroundings. 



The adaptability of wing, bill, foot, and feathering to the various 

 purposes in the life of the bird is well illustrated. 



These two naturalists deal duly with the harm as well as the good 

 done by birds. To English naturalists and cultivators the book would 

 have been of additional interest if a summary had been given of the 

 results obtained by the Hungarians in examining the stomachs of the 

 various birds to ascertain their food and habits, and it would be of interest 

 to know the source of some of the information, whether from Hungary or 

 England. A few of the birds described are practically unknown in 

 England, though perhaps common in Hungary. Passing by the useful 

 birds, we quote a few opinions on some of the birds that do a certain 

 amount of harm ; thus with reference to starlings among cherries it 

 Bays: "Even the most ardent bird-lover will not be foolish enough to 

 protect every bird at all times and seasons," and recommends scaring by 

 the gun, &e. ; if a long narrow flag be fixed to a strong branch on tall 

 cherry trees these birds will be kept away. The starling has been 



