Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/60

38 has a double in Surrey, and that the writer of this notice very much astonished a peaceful and non-sporting gentleman by showing him the portrait of Major Fisher as that of himself.

In no carping spirit of criticism, we would point out that the same narrative is given on both pages 54 and 99, which seems to prove that the printer's "reader" had not the keen eye of the trained Falcon.

very name of Cardiff inspires a view of docks and coalmines rather than the sylvan haunts of birds, and we read in the introduction to this very handsomely printed avian enumeration that the establishment of the iron industry and the working of the coal-measures have contributed to reduce the number and variety of "our bird species." Still, Glamorgan is not wholly given up to the devastating instincts of commercial man, and a list of its birds compiled to-day will be material to compare a hundred years hence with what its avian fauna may be then.

The list contains the names of two hundred and thirty-five species, including such rarities as the Rusty Crackle (Scoleocophagus ferrugineus), a native of boreal regions, shot near Cardiff in 1881; the Little Carolina Crake (Porzana Carolina), captured at Cardiff in 1888; and Pallas's Great Grey Shrike (Lanius major), shot near Bridgend in 1881. We quite agree with the condemnation of the practice of providing a violent death for strange birds; but may we not ask how we should have recorded the presence of two out of the three above birds without the aid of the gun. It is pleasant reading to find that the Kingfisher still abounds, that the Goldfinch is on the increase, the Hawfinch is pushing westward and is breeding in the county, the Merlin is regarded as common, the Kestrel is abundant, and the Sparrow-Hawk fairly numerous, notwithstanding the persecution of the gamekeeper; but, on the other hand, the Marsh-Harrier is supposed to be now extinct, and the Hen-Harrier as almost so, the Chough has decreased very much of late years, while the same remark applies to the Land-Rail.

The excellent print and general "get up" of this book is worthy of all commendation.