Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/128

96 of the Giesbrecht nets from the Naples Station. These, together with the old and new styles of Tanner net, which we take with us, as well as a selfclosing net adopted by Dr. Townsend of the 'Albatross,' which he was kind enough to have made for me, will give us the means of comparing these different styles of deep-sea tow-nets, and of testing their comparative efficiency under similar circumstances."

of British Birds' in the collection of Mr. E.M. Connop, of Rollesby Hall, Norfolk, has been compiled by our old contributor Mr. Thomas Southwell, and contains rather more than is usually expected in such enumerations. The preface is a digest of information respecting the principal private ornithological collections made in Norfolk and their ultimate dispersal. There are also some details as to the life-histories of professional gunners, who have done much for British ornithology, are a vanishing race, and will leave little personal record. The enumeration of the birds is accompanied with—in most cases—careful localisation; date and method of acquisition; if purchased, sale and lot number given; and many other items which will afford material for the British Natural History of the future, when an attenuated fauna will be principally described by the connection it will bear with the authentic records of the past. It is published at Norwich.

the January number of the 'Annals of Scottish Natural History,' Mr. J.A. Harvie-Brown has written on a subject to which he has paid much attention, "On the Minor Faunal Areas." His own words will give the best introduction to his memoir:—

"At the present time naturalists are endeavouring to arrive at conclusions regarding certain groups of phenomena relating to animal life, which phenomena have every appearance of being intimately associated with one another. These are: Bird Flight, Migration, Dispersal, and Distribution. As a first means towards their study I have long advocated the subdivision of larger areas into smaller sub-areas, and have illustrated my contention by treating this country of Scotland in such a manner. I have defined what we may call 'the Minor Faunal Areas of Scotland' from topographical and faunal standpoints.

"The Minor Faunal Areas of Scotland are at present defined either by the names of the principal river basins or from their isolated positions. 'Dee,' 'Forth,' 'Clyde' are examples of the former, and 'Outer Hebrides,' 'Orkney,' 'Shetland' are examples of the latter; whilst another group is indicated from their somewhat more general geographical position, independent of their great watersheds—and including these—such as 'Moray,' 'Sutherland,' 'West Ross,' or 'Argyll.'"