10 
Reviews and Book Notices . 
The lecturer referred particularly to the position of the eyes of the 
Heron which are set to look downwards so that the area beneath the head 
can be seen when the beak is held horizontally and to the long yellow 
tongue which could be clearly seen in some of the photographs. 
When stormy weather was experienced, the young squatted down in 
the bottom of the nests, and when the sun shone, much time was given 
over to preening and sun-bathing. When heavy rain fell, the young 
wrapped themselve about with their wings in a most remarkable manner, 
the head and neck being completely hidden. When the rain ceased they 
opened their wings, shook themselves and appeared to be quite dry. 
In many of the nests one of the young was smaller and weaker than the 
others and obtained a smaller share of the food. This hindered its growth 
and placed it at a further disadvantage of which -the others took immediate 
advantage. It received violent stabs and buffetings from the others until 
it learnt to interpose its body and to hide its more vulnerable head and 
neck. As it became weaker it was more and more assailed by the others 
until it was finally killed or pushed over the edge of the nest. This 
accounts for the large number of young Herons found dead or dying 
beneath the nests and it was observed that the adults treated the matter 
with complete indifference. 
The Heron mates when two years old and does not appear to rear a 
second brood. 
The lecturer had to dispute the tenancy of his hide with a 
pair of amorous Stock Doves and a pair of Jackdaws which frequently 
perched about his person. The lecture was admirably illustrated and 
was much appreciated as the culmination of an enterprise displaying 
both enthusiasm and endurance. 
A vote of thanks to the lecturers and the lanternist was proposed and 
carried unanimously. 
REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 
The Nightingale : Its Story and Song, by Oliver G. Pike. 
London : J. W. Arrowsmith, Ltd., 208 pp., 10/6 net. The author seems 
to have gathered together all there is to be said about the Nightingale, 
its nesting habits, its song, food supply, etc. His notes thereon are 
followed by eighteen chapters dealing with Warblers, Thrushes, Finches, 
Skylarks, Titmice, Pipits, etc. The species described are illustrated 
by quite good photographs reproduced by the half-tone process, and there 
is no doubt our readers will like to have this record of observations 
which they have probably made in the field. 
Thomas Johnson : Botanist and Royalist, by H. Wallis Kew 
and H. E. Powell. London : Longmans, Green & Co., Ltd., xi. + i5i 
pp., 8/6 net. The work of the pioneers of botanical science are often 
so hidden and difficult of access that we are inclined to forget the work 
of these great writers. Our contributor, Mr. H. W. Kew, together with 
the Librarian of the Royal Society of Medicine, Mr. H. E. Powell, have 
jointly made investigations as to the life and work of Thomas Johnson, 
who early contributed much to botanical science. The list of works 
and references with which the volume commences is rather an alarming 
one, and shows the extent to which research has been made. Perhaps 
one of the most remarkable of many illustrations is that on Plate XI. 
when it is shown to what an extent England and Wales was covered 
by Johnson during his botanical work. There are reproductions of 
photographs, early books, woodcuts, etc., the whole making an enter- 
taining volume. Among them is an early example of a bunch of bananas 
The Naturalist 
