Stray Feathers from Many Birds. By Charles Dixon. (W. H.
Allen and Co.)—Mr. Dixon is an expert in all that concerns birds. He begins by letting us into the secret of his knowledge, which, indeed, is nothing more or less than the habit of keen and patient observation. After this prefatory chapter, we have one on a very different subject, the "Commercial Value of Birds." He is full of information, but he does not express the detestation which a bird-lover might be expected to feel for the fashion which dooms these beautiful creatures to die for a passing fancy. Then we have a chapter on " Plovers' Eggs," followed by one on " Rooks and Rookeries." The strange capriciousness of these birds is noted ; but the chapter might have been lengthened with advantage. The philanthropy—in the strict sense of the word— that the rook shows might have been profitably enlarged upon. Did not the rooks return to the Bishop's Palace in Lichfield when the Bishop deserted his suburban residence to live there P A story is even told that a colony had determined to leave their abode with the ancient family that had been compelled to give up their home, but changed their mind when an envoy found the names on the new-comers' luggage to be satisfactorily aristo- cratic ! But we cannot pretend to follow Mr. Dixon in his silvan and river-side wanderings. Among the chapters may be men- tioned that on " Thames Swans " (can it be true that " birds bearing the Royal mark are occasionally to be seen hanging for sale in the game-dealers' shops" ?), "A Plea for the Sea-Gulls," "A Derby- shire Trout-Stream," and one of special interest with the title of " How Species Perish." In this last we find a curious fact about the pheasant. The ring-necked pheasant from China (Phasianus terquatus) is driving out the ringless variety, which was once the only English bird.—With the preceding may be mentioned a volume which will be found highly useful as a book of reference, A Handbook of European Birds, by James Backhouse, jun. (Gurney and Jackson). Nearly three thousand species and varieties are described, more or less fully.
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