Book Notices and Reviews. 
175 
" esjiecially in pollard willows, for it is often found by the water-side, 
■' th(>uf?h less exclusively than its name would imply. It often pecks out 
" its own hole in a rotten trees. The nest itself is of the usual Tit type, 
"made of moss, ^rass, wool, fur and feathers ; willow catkins are also used 
"according to Mr. Kearton." 
" The eggs are very like those of the Tilue-and-Coal-tits, and equally 
"numerous, if not more so, ranging from six to ten. The nesting-time is 
" the same as that given for the last species." 
" The Marsh -tit nest all over most of the British Isles, but is local 
" in Scotland and Ireland, and all across the temperate parts of the Old 
" World ; its black cap and bill will distinguish it from all the other small 
" Tits except the Coal-tit, which is well distinguished from it by the white 
" spots on the back of the neck." 
" A form of Marsh-tit called tha Willow-tit {Pai u>> salicari usi) has 
"been found breeding here ; it is said to be distinguishable by its duller 
" black head, more rounded tail, and whitish edging to the wing feather.s, 
" while the eggs are larger and more clearly spotted. This 1ms a wide 
"range across Europe and Asia." 
It should prove a welcome addition to the bookshelves of all interested 
in our native avifauna. 
The Water-fowl of India and Asia, iiy F Finn, M A,, M.B.O.U.— 
Thacker, Spink and Co., Calcutta. Rs. 
We propose supplementing the preliminary notice of last issue, with 
a reprint of one of the smaller accounts of species, viz :— 
"The Red-ckks'I'kd Mehgansek.— J/e/v/a//.st'/- .se/;(t/(>;-, Blandford, 
" Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds Vol. iv, p. 470. Vernacular names. — None known. 
" This Merganser is a smaller bird than the Goossander, but has a 
"longer and narrower bill, with more teeth, and less hooked at the tip. 
" The sexes differ structurally in just the opposite way to those of the 
" other species, the nialc Merganser having a long straggling double crest, 
" consisting of an upper and lower portion, and the a shorter one. 
" The mah of this species resembles in general the male Goosander in 
" colour and markings, with the following noteworthy differences : — The 
" back is more black, the breast is reddish-brown with ill-defined l)lack 
" streaks ; the whole front edge of the wing is grey, and there are two 
" black bars across the white part ; there is a patch of white black-edged 
" feathers just in front of the armi)it ; and the lower part of the back is 
" finely pencilled with black and white, this marking being continued 
" more coarsely on the upi)er thinks." 
" l^ha feiiial c is very like the female (Joosander, but is of a dull 
" mottled brownish-grey instead of the cleai' pale liluisli grey of that bird ; 
" the head is not so reddish, and the white of the throat is duller 
" and less clearly defined ; and the white i)atch on the wing formed by 
" the secondaries and their coverts is crossed hy a black bar, this occupying 
" the same position as the shorter of the two black wing-bars of the male. 
" The //mini/ and the male in iiinlrfin.f closely resembles the female. 
" Voniig birds ami females have less bright red feet tlian males, and there 
" is more black along the ridge of the bill in these ; the male has bright 
