394 Recently published Ornithological Works. 
5 4. Roosevelt’s ‘ African Game-Trails .' 
[African Game-Trails, an Account of tlie African Wanderings of an 
American Hunter-Naturalist. By Theodore Roosevelt. London: John 
Murray, Albemarle Street, W., 1910. 8vo, 584 pp.] 
Although we allow that the ex-President's account of his 
travels and “shoots" cannot strictly be called a “Bird- 
book,” yet there are in it sufficient references to bird-life to 
induce us to invite the attention of our ornithological friends 
to its issue. Mr. Roosevelt's object was, of course, to com¬ 
bine his shooting propensities with the supply of good 
specimens of the larger “ game-animals'' to the great 
American Museums at New York and Washington. In this 
he was eminently successful, owing mainly, we believe, to 
the able assistance rendered to his plans by two well-known 
English sportsmen, Mr. Selous and Mr. E. N. Buxton, and 
to the selection of his staff, and, we should add, to the able 
help of the British officials in East Africa, who appear to 
have shewn him every possible attention. 
But, dismissing for a moment the engrossing “ big 
mammals," we find it quite evident that the writer of this 
volume has a keen eye for birds. Let us see what he says 
about the Honey-guides ( Indicator ) and their wonderful 
habits :— 
“ While on safari at the ’Nzoi I was even more interested in honey- 
birds which led us to honey than I was in game. John Burroughs had 
especially charged me before starting for Africa to look personally into 
this extraordinary habit of the honey-bird, a habit so extraordinary that 
he was inclined to disbelieve the reality of its existence. But it un¬ 
questionably does exist. Every experienced hunter and every native 
who lives in the wilderness has again and again been an eye-witness of 
it. Kermit, in addition to his experience in the Sotik, had been led by a 
honey-bird to honey in a rock near Lake Hannington. Once, while I was 
tracking game, a honey-bird made its appearance, chattering loudly and 
flying beside us. I let two of the porters follow it, and it led them to 
honey. On the morning of the day we reached the ’Nzoi a honey-bird 
appeared beside the safari, behaving in the same manner. Some of the 
men begged to be allowed to follow it. While they were talking to me, 
the honey-bird flew to a big tree fifty yards off, and called loudly as it 
flitted about to and fro in the branches. Sure enough, there was honey 
in the tree. I let some of the men stay to get it, but they found little 
except comb filled with grubs. The natives believe that misfortune will 
