Book Notices and Reviews. 
129 
nest, which the latter had built in a small heap of bricks. After 
laying her third egg she completely disappeared. 
This hen, last year, paired with a cock Reed Bunting in 
another aviary, laid a clutch of eggs and sat for a fortnight ; 
but the eggs were infertile. 
In the " Zoologist " the following references to this 
species appears : — 
1875. p. 4290 : vSteveiison of Norwich, nest destroyed. 
,, p. 4380 : F. Nicholson, Chester, 3 eggs one year, 3 young the next 
year, but they died in nest. 
1887. p. 391 : J. E. Harting writes : A pair in Elgin iNIuseuni. 
Female — laid two eggs, but was disturbed and eggs 
addled. 
In Mr. St. Quintin's aviaries, this species has nested on several 
occasions, but no young liave been reared. Early in June of the present 
year they were again incubiiting, but at time of going to press result was 
not to hand. 
3Boo{? IRotices aiiD TReviews. 
British Birds for Cages, Aviaries and Exhibition, by 
Sumner W. Birchley. Sherratt & Hughes, 33, Soho Square, 
London, W. In two vols., 25/- nett. 
The books on British Birds are legion, and it would seem 
that the ground was fully covered, but Mr. S. W. Birchley has 
given us a verj' comprehensive and practical treatise of such 
species as are usually kept in captivity. It runs into two hand- 
some volumes of over 300 pages each ; each species is well- 
figured on full page half-tone plates ; the text well and clearl}' 
printed on good paper with wide margins. It is concise, com- 
prehensive and interesting, each species being dealt with under 
the following headings : — Desaiplion ; Habitation ; Nest and 
Eggs ; Comitry side Notes ; Catching; Hand-rearijig ; Meaiing-off ; 
Steadying and Ge7ieral Feeding ; Exhibititig and Attractive 
Qualities. It is a book which we can cordially recommend to all 
lovers of our native avifauna. By the courtesy of the Publishers 
we are permitted to reproduce one of the illustrations (Reed 
Warbler", which with the account of same, reprinted in full, will 
indicate the character, scope and interest of the work. 
