Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/146

120 from the limited knowledge we possess, it rather resembles the form inhabiting North-East Africa than the Guzerat animal. Major St. John's notes upon this species are extremely interesting, and the narrative of his adventure with a lioness is of far more thrilling interest than half the stories put together with which we are familiar. Indeed of late nothing less than four or five lions bolting from cover altogether at a "hot corner," and being rolled over (on paper) like rabbits, will suit the modern appetites for large bags, and it is refreshing to meet with a lioness that could look an Englishman in the face without dying on the spot.

This district produced a new species of Woodpecker (Picus Sancti-Johannis), closely allied to the European P. medius, and two new Titmice—one Parus phæonotus, allied to P. ater, but distinguishable by its olive-brown back; the other P. persicus, a pale-coloured form of P. cæruleus.

Of the fauna of Mesopotamia Mr. Blanford's regard for accuracy precludes him from saying much, as available information on the subject proved very scanty, but his remarks on the Zoology of the shores of the Persian Gulf and Balúchistán are of great interest, as he has personally explored this region, the fauna of which differs widely from that of the rest of Persia. The Palæarctic forms are now almost entirely replaced on the highlands by desert species of the Indian fauna, and in a few cases by Malayan types, whilst several others are African, and are either unknown in India or at most do not extend beyond Sind and the neighbouring districts east of the Indus, all of these last being desert types.

Space will not permit us to pick out the new and interesting species which he has described, nor would it be fair to the author to do so. Many of the mammals and birds are illustrated by beautiful coloured plates by Keulemans, as well as by woodcuts and by lithographic engravings of the reptiles by Ford, and an excellent coloured map is given of the geographical provinces. On the whole the volume is an indispensable one to naturalists, and is in every way worthy of Mr. Blanford's high reputation.