EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS. 
introduction of botanical accessories, representing the indigenous flora of the country. The volume, when complete, will not only 
be a valuable contribution to scientific literature, but will be an elegant drawing-room companion ; for, to adopt the language of 
a leading scientific journal respecting it, ‘ the plates are as beautiful in execution as the text is excellent in quality.’ ” 
Home News. 
“ The lamentable way in which the indigenous birds are expiring in that country before the progress of civilization and 
other natural causes, has rendered it a necessity that a work should be prepared that will rescue from oblivion the feathered 
denizens of those places which in a short lapse of time ‘ shall know them no more.’ This it has fallen to Dr. Buller’s lot to 
accomplish ; and it were small praise indeed to say that his task is executed in an admirable manner. Few ornithological works 
that have been written come up to the standard of the subject of this notice ; and none have yet surpassed it, nor will it be 
possible to do so. Certainly the author brings to his aid unusual advantages ; but even these might fail in the hands of a less 
conscientious person than Dr. Duller has shown himself to ho In the Part now before us the history is given of 
thirteen birds, ten of which are figured ; and this brings us down to the end of Accipitres, Psittaci, and Picarim 0 
one since the time of the late Professor Macgillivray has so successfully combined the two branches of cabinet and field ornithology 
as Dr. Duller ; and his experiences, and those of his numerous coadjutors, are told in a pleasing and instructive manner, which 
cannot fail to interest and amuse his readers. Indeed it is seldom that we have seen a hook which so thoroughly calls for 
unqualified praise as the present We have onty, in conclusion, to perform the pleasing dutj r of offering our 
congratulations to the inhabitants of New Zealand on their possession of so distinguished a naturalist as Dr. Duller, and to the 
author on the complete success with which his arduous task promises to be crowned.” — European Mail. 
“ This admirable work, which places New Zealand in the front rank of countries, from an ornithological point of view, 
does credit to all concerned in it. Nothing seems to have been spared to make it as good as possible: and this fact is the more 
gratifying as in a few years many of the native species will probably have become extinct, and the opportunity of observing 
their habits, which are in most cases very fully described, will be lost for ever. The selection of the species for illustration is 
judicious, and the Plates are good.” — Zoological Record. 
“ Before entering upon my own researches and a dissertation on the species, I will briefly refer to the Ornithological 
litoratnre that has been published during the last two years ; and on this occasion I seize with pleasure the opportunity of 
drawing attention to an undertaking which I desire to recommend most warmly to all friends of and experts in Ornithology. It 
is the beautiful work entitled ‘ A History of the Birds of New Zealand,’ upon the publication of which my friend Dr. Duller is at 
present engaged, having come from New Zealand to London for that special purpose. This work, as is proved by the First Part, 
which I have now before me, very worthily links itself in with Sharpo and Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ Sharpe’s ‘ Kingfishers,’ 
and Marshall’s ‘ Capitonidse.’ As with the last-mentioned works, the execution of the Plates has been entrusted to the clever 
pencil of Keulomans, whose masterly work has long since gained universal acknowledgment, and docs not stand in need of any 
further recommendation. Thus we shall before long he in the enjoyment of an exhaustive description of the Birds of New 
Zealand, equally perfect in text and illustration, and every person whose means will permit of it ought, without delay, to 
obtain possession of this beautiful book, the more so as its publication in Parts greatly facilitates the acquisition.”- — Dr. Finsch 
in ‘ Journal fur Ornitliologie,’ 1872. 
“ That New Zealand contains more than an average number of persons interested in the advancement of science is evident, 
not only from the large number of members belonging to the various scientific Societies in the Colony, hut also from the liberal 
way in which the Legislature votes money for scientific purposes ; and to all of those who wish to see an intelligent interest taken 
in the subject of Natural History by our rising generation, Dr. Buller’s beautiful work on the Birds of New Zealand cannot fail to 
be most welcome A book of this nature can bo looked at either from a scientific or from a popular point of view— the 
nomenclature, descriptions, &c. forming the strictly scientific part, and the life-history of tho birds the popular part ; each being, 
in its own way, of equal importance. It is very rare indeed to find the qualifications necessary for tho pursuit of both branches 
of Ornithology combined in one individual ; and although we do not consider Dr. Buller’s hook irreproachable from either aspect, 
still we know of no other work on Ornithology, tho product of a single author, in which both branches are so successfully 
combined, as in the book before us Dr. Buller’s style is exceedingly good, clear, and to the point. Without wasting 
words, he brings out in a few graphic touches the salient points of whatever he may be describing, and it is easy to see that he 
is a real lover of nature and delights in a camp-out in the bush The descriptions of the species are excellent. Indeed, 
we think that these are the best portions of the book ; and it is evident that a great deal of labour has been expended over thorn. 
In very few hooks on Natural History do we get such detailed descriptions of the adult, tho j’oung, and the varieties of the 
species, and the methodical manner in which they have been drawn up adds greatly to their value.” — Review hi/ Prof. Hutton in 
New-Zealand Magazine’ (January 1876). 
