196 
The Scottish Naturalist. 
the scanty literature relating to Alca impennis as a British bird. A fine etch- 
ing of the range of cliffs in Papa Westray, frequented by the last of the 
Orcadian Great Auks, and an autotype picture of the actual cranny 
wherein they rested, and perhaps nested, are given. Referring to the occur- 
rence of Gharadrius fulvus at p. 202, the authors not unnaturally expatiate 
upon the almost wonderful discrimination displayed by the Orcadian boatman 
in detecting the decidedly subtle distinctions between this species and the 
common bird. Such, if actually displayed, was indeed not a little remarkable ; 
but this reminds us that there is another version relating to the origin of this 
specimen besides that recorded in '* The Field " of December loth, 1887. 
According to this unpublished account, the bird, though doubtless from 
Orkney, passed through the hands of Messrs. W. Johnston & Co,, Poulterers, 
Queen Street, Edinburgh. We mention the above facts with the view of 
drawing our authors' attention to a subject not unworthy of their further 
investigation. 
Of resident Reptiles there are none, and the class has a solitary representa- 
tive in such a waif as the Hawks-billed Turtle. The Amphibians are repre- 
sented by the Toad. 
Over one hundred Fishes are enumerated, and the account of the Trouts is 
especially worthy of the attention of all interested in the variations of these 
particularly plastic species. 
We might dwell further and quote much with advantage, if space permitted 
us, from the numerous items of great interest in which the book abounds, but 
we must be content to have given some idea of the scope of the work, and in 
bearing testimony as to the admirable and painstaking manner in which all the 
details relating to both the islands and their Vertebrate Fauna have been 
worked out ; and it only remains to say that, in point of illustration and general 
get up, the book is in all respects a worthy companion to the elegant volumes 
of this series which have already appeared. 
