Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/167

Rh with this phase of undigested information, and with this want of monographic treatment. Anthropology is a science which affords a special instance of how the accumulation, selection, and arrangement of facts can by competent and judicious authorities be made original contributions to the knowledge of our own species. The history of Fowling was a subject that could only be treated properly by an ornithologist, but was one that few ornithologists would consider came within their vocation. It was an opportunity for a "book" in its real sense; and we are glad that Mr. Macpherson essayed the task, and not a light one. This collection of facts, with their orderly arrangement and subordination to the aim of the work, is more than equal to the collection of species and their subsequent taxonomic treatment; and our author informs us that his "plan has been to read through every ornithological work that I could find in the five or six languages which are all that I can possibly translate." Besides these, books of travel must and have been consulted, and we now possess a standard work which the reader can from time to time annotate himself with those stray records which do not come to all alike; for which purpose we are thankful for wide margins, good paper, and a book that will almost open flat—though perhaps this is too much to expect in modern binding.

The introduction contains, under the title of "The Literature of Fowling," references to little-known works in English, German, French, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, and Japanese literature; and also a dissertation on the principal implements used in the art of fowling. The systematic arrangement of the birds "is partly based upon that which my colleagues and I adopted in writing the Avian portion of the 'Royal Natural History,'" commencing with the family Corvidæ.

There seems a natural inclination on the part of most races of mankind to practise the snare of the fowler as a sport; and when commerce steps in and bribes the baser passions, the pursuit assumes a form of slaughter. Even in India the White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) is easily caught by the natives; at Vancouver Island the Indians successfully capture Brent Geese; in Australia the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), when in moult, can be rowed down in a boat; the Japanese are expert decoyers; Pheasants are snared all through-