166 Recently published Ornithological Works, 
7. Deivar on Indian Birds. 
[Indian Birds, being a Key to tbe Common Birds of the Plains of 
India. By Douglas Dewar. 1 vol., demy 8vo, 228 pp. John Lane : 
London and New York.] 
The object of this book is, as the author informs us, u to 
enable people interested in our Indian birds to identify at 
sight those they are likely to meet with in their compounds 
and during their excursions into the jungle.” This is a most 
praiseworthy object, and we have no doubt that Mr. Dewar’s 
little volume will be of material assistance in meeting the 
want of such a guide, though it is drawn up in a somewhat 
novel manner. The method adopted is to classify the “ birds 
of the plains ” under several categories “ according to their 
habits and outward appearances.” Every bird has a colour, 
and presents some other peculiarity (such as a crest, a short 
tail, long legs, or a peculiar voice) which enables it to be 
divided from its fellows and arranged in a certain group, 
specified by the author. Thus if the observer sees a white bird 
with a crested head and a long tail and examines Mr. Dewar’s 
lists, he will find that No. 47 is the only species that com¬ 
bines these three peculiarities. On turning to the “ Descrip¬ 
tive List,” which forms the second half of the work, “No. 47 ” 
will be found to be the Indian Paradise Flycatcher ( Terpsi - 
phone paradisi ). This may be not a very scientific way for 
the young Ornithologist to learn the names of his birds, but 
it is a simple one, and may be of some use to a beginner. 
Mr. Dewar thinks that it will enable any person to identify 
in a few weeks nearly all the common birds of his Station. 
8. ‘ The Emu / 
[The Emu. A Quarterly Magazine to popularize the Study and 
Protection of Native Birds. Vol. x. pts. 1, 2.] 
In the first of these parts we have an important paper 
by a New Zealander, Mr. T. Iredale, on the Birds of the 
Kermadec Islands, which lie between that country and the 
Friendly Islands to the northward. The writer remained on 
Raoul or Sunday Island, the chief of the group, from 
