Abstract
THREE claims to high commendation present themselves on the first glance at this elegant little popular work. In the first place, the numerous illustrations are simply exquisite; secondly, technical names are banished from the text; and, thirdly, in the long list of species forming the appendix such names appear to be correctly spelt, and are thoroughly up to date, even to the adoption of the so-called “Scomber scomber” system of alliteration. In her preface Lady William confesses that the notes were written originally solely for her children, who doubtless were desirous of possessing a memento of their parents' Nile trip, but that friends persuaded her to offer them to the public. The adoption of this advice is, in our opinion, fully justified, and while the book has no doubt been found delightful by the young people of the family, it can scarcely fail to be a pleasant companion to the many bird-lovers who make a winter excursion up the Nile. Although no attempt (and very properly) is made at technical descriptions of the various species encountered during the voyage, such notes as are given are in most cases sufficient to render identification an easy matter, to say nothing of the instances when this is rendered self-evident by the illustrations.
Bird Notes from the Nile.
By Lady William Cecil. Pp. xii + 113; illustrated. (London: Archibald Constable and Co., Ltd., 1904.) Price 2s. 6d. net.
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L., R. Bird Notes from the Nile . Nature 71, 150 (1904). https://doi.org/10.1038/071150b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/071150b0