The Scottish Naturalist. 
143 
does the information on which it treats down to date, besides containing some 
original matter. Much has been contributed recently to the more perfect 
knowledge of the Natural History of the Bee, but this has not been put together 
and presented to the public in a convenient form. Most of the illustrations — and 
there are many — are quite new ; and the subject-matter is treated of in a 
thoroughly systematic manner. We have formed a very high opinion of the 
book, and can thoroughly recommend it to all who desire to possess the best 
account of the Honey Bee. The price of the book, 2s.6d., places it within the 
reach of all. 
Die Vog'elwarte Helg'oland, Von Heinrich Gatke.— Ornithologists 
throughout the world, and especially the students of Migration, will give a 
cordial welcome to Herr Gatke's work entitled " Die Vogelwarte Helgoland," 
which, in an exceedingly handsome form, has just been issued by Joh. 
Heinr. Meyer, Braunschweig. After reading it one is almost forced to 
the conclusion that it constitutes the most important contribution to orni- 
thology which has appeared for many years. It is edited by Professor Rudolf 
Blasius, who, with questionable taste, has dedicated this eminently Gatkian 
Volume to Johann Blasius, his father. In a short preface the author narrates 
the circumstances which led him to the study of the birds of Heligoland, how 
as a marine painter he came to reside on the island, and how the extreme 
ornithological richness of the locality forced itself upon his attention. The 
book begins with a series of chapters on Migration, the first being a general 
sketch of the distribution of birds in Heligoland from January to December, a 
charmingly written paper in which Herr Gatke clearly demonstrates that the 
brush is not the only instrument he uses with pictorial effect. The following 
chapters are " On the Direction of Flight," " On the Altitude of Flight," " On 
the Speed of Flight," " On the Meteorological Relations of Migration," *' On 
Migration in Relation to Age and Sex," " On Exceptional Occurrences," 
*' What Guides the Migrating Bird," and the " Causes of Migration." The 
second part of the book^consists of a paper, " On the Change of Colour of Birds 
without Moulting," and the third part gives a description of the occurrence of 
the 396 birds which have been observed in Heligoland. This last division, 
which forms the greater bulk of the volume, will be found to be of extreme in- 
terest, and its importance to the students of British ornithology cannot well be 
over estimated. Herr Gatke's admirable work is one which will be studied by 
all who profess acquaintance with birds, and its appearance in English transla- 
tion will be awaited with impatience. G. L. 
An Introduction to the Study of Mammals Living- and 
Extinct. By W. H. Flower, C.B., F.R.S., &c., and R. Lyddekak. 
London : Messrs. Black, 1891. 
The advent of this work has been waited for with much interest, not simply 
as the product of one possessed of such special qualifications for the task as 
Professor Flower, but more perhaps as the joint product of zoologist and 
palaeontologist. Strange indeed it seems that such a natural union (of fellow 
labouiers in a common field, for such is really the case) should be an event of 
