The broadcast addresses to schools which supply the Matter of
The Story of the Birds, by C. J. Patten (Pawson and Brailsford, 16s. 6d.) have in their passage to print become enlarged to more than twice their original size. The first half deals mainly with the structure of birds and the second with migration. We have in fact two books in one. As this has resulted in what will prove a formidable price to most young readers and their parents, it would have been better if the issue had been in two parts. The price is all the more to be regretted as the work is packed with interesting information written on the whole in a very readable manner. The qualification is introduced because Professor Patten has here and there written down to his young public in a way that is likely to irritate them not a little. Witness the opening lines of the first chapter. The chief criticism suggested by the subject- matter is that when the author deals with what he calls " habits," and what is now more commonly called " behaviour," he inclines towards an anthropomorphism that has ceased to find much favour among comparative psycho- logists. Their point of view is overlooked. The illustrations are of mixed quality and the pictures of museum specimens: might well have been left out.
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