A DICTIONARY OF BIRDS. 
199 
the land, seems certain—it is part of the price which we pay for 
civilisation—but much might be done to put off such an unwished 
for consummation far into the future by taking a little care in due 
season, especially if the consciences could be aroused of 
women who call themselves tender-hearted and civilised, but who, 
by wearing feathers, and even the whole plumage of birds, 
encourage and share the guilt of the detestable devastation carried 
on at the behest of the people who set fashions. 
We turn now to the articles on the anatomy of birds ; they are 
by Dr. Gadow, one of the greatest living authorities on the subject, 
and they form a notable feature of this work. There is an article 
on general anatomy, in which, among other things, its bearing or 
classification is discussed ; of a more special and detailed character 
are the articles on Air-sacks, Bill, Brain, Caeca, Digestive System 
(particularly valuable), Ear, Embryology, Feathers, &c. 
We must not omit to mention the account of Fossil Birds by 
Mr. Lydekker, one of the greatest of English palaeontologists ; as 
we should expect, this article is very well done. 
One especially good feature distinguishes all the articles, that is 
the numerous references to standard works and papers on Ornitho¬ 
logy : the information given in this dictionary will, of course, be 
quite sufficient for many who consult it, but there will be some who 
will wish to go into matters more fully ; to such, the references just 
mentioned will be invaluable, and will set them at once on the right 
track. 
While the matter of this dictionary is good, the printing and 
paper are quite in harmony—they are both excellent. The letter- 
press, too, is illustrated with numerous woodcuts; many of them are 
from Swainson’s “ Classification of Birds,” and have rarely been 
equalled for truth and beauty ; others are from Buller’s “ Birds of 
New Zealand,” the British Museum Catalogues, the Proceedings of 
the Zoological Society, etc. ; they are all good and useful. In every 
respect, then, this instalment of the work is admirable ; if the 
three succeeding parts reach the very high standard of the present 
one, Professor Newton’s c> Dictionary of Birds ” will be indispensable 
to every naturalist interested in Ornithology—tyro and specialist 
alike will find it invaluable. A. B. Badger. 
September, 1893. 
