158 
Book Notices and Reviezvs. 
" 7'/ie /uhn e of biology is largely in the hands oj the practical breeder." 
[Tlie italics are ours. — Ed.] 
There will l)e a large divergence of opinion on the con- 
clusions reached, man}' of which are however supported by field 
notes (these form one of the most valuable features of the work), 
much avicultural data also apparentlj' tends in the same direction, 
and we opine that the future will be more fruitful in this direc- 
tion than in the past. 
Though in accord with much that it expresses we consider 
the preface needlessly irritating in its phraseology and calculated 
to hinder with some an unprejudiced reading of the book. 
We strongly urge our members to procure this intensely 
interesting book and venture to prophecy that it will set its 
thoughtful readers observing and experimenting along new lines, 
in such case much interesting data should result. 
British Birds: August issue is to hand, and contains a 
truly photographic supplement of photos b}' Miss E. L. Turner, 
all of which were taken in a very brief period. They are as 
follows : — 
III. Water Rail : Running to the Nest. 
IV. ,, ,, Chipping the Shell to assist the chick. 
V. ,, ,, Brooding. 
VI. ,, ,, Removing first chick. 
VII. ,, ,, Removing second chick. 
VIII. ,, ,, Removing third chick, still in the shell. 
IX. ,, ,, Removing fourth chick in the shell. 
X. ,, ,, Removing addled egg. 
These birds were under constant observation, and in spite 
of every precaution had been much disturbed, as the following 
quotation shows: — 
" As a rule the Water- Rail is one of the most wary of sitters — more keenly 
"alert and sensitive to the slighest sound than any bird I know; but on 
" tills occasion she more than once allowed me to change niy plate with- 
" out disturbing herself in the slightest. The nervous anxiety did 
" display was purely maternal ; wrapt in her own meditation, she seemed 
" lost to outside influences. . . ." 
" I asked Vincent (the keeper) to examine the eggs and report pro- 
"gress. Two of the young were out, and he removed the broken shells. 
"Then the excitement began. The female returned, stood on tip-toe, 
" peeped into the nest, and quick as thought seized one youngster by the 
