Short Stalks : Second Series. By Edward North Buxton. (Edward
Stanford. 21s.)—Mr. Buxton's second instalment of sporting tales will delight all the readers of his first book,—an audience which was probably by no means confined to those who regard big-game shooting as the first and greatest pleasure in life. Indeed, the author writes so pleasantly, and possesses such a charming gift of mingled gossip and description, that the sporting intention of his narrative may easily be disregarded by those readers who have little sympathy with the joys of the chase. It is not always easy, perhaps, to appreciate the en- thusiasm that spends long days of weary labour in stalking the rare animal with the sole intention, apparently, of making it yet more rare. However, in Mr. Buxton's case it is so evident that it is the joy of the chase itself, and not the horned trophy or the record, which inspired his wanderings, that one may readily forget, and—if one is so inclined—forgive the question- able practice of helping the slow extermination of the scarcer forms of wild animals. In this series, too, the author takes his readers further afield, exchanging the mountain ranges of Europe for the slopes of Sinai, the eastern deserts of Egypt, Somaliland, Crete, and Daghestan. Not always was the horned head, the object of his ambition and the reward of much strenuous discomfort, obtained. In Crete, for instance, the wild goats still remain undiminished by Mr. Buxton's rifle, in spite of all the ingenuity and patience which he devoted to their down- fall. But his description of that country and of others—notably of Daghestan—and the pictures that he draws of the charms of camp-life, are of far greater interest than his success or failure as a stalker. One should add, also, that his book is capitally illustrated by some excellent photographs, taken by himself.
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