Any account of the birds of Portugal is welcome by
reason Of the scanty literature relating to the avifauna of that country, but The Birds of Portugal, by Mr. Tait, is especially welcome, because the author is so well qualified, both by long residence in the country, and by love of his subject, to give us an authori- tative work. This book is more than a mere cheek list, for it embodies many valuable observations on migration and geographical distribution. The author has many interesting remarks on the local races of various widely distributed species. In several cases identical forms are found in the British Isles and in Portugal, whereas the Continental form is i Slightly different. This is probably attributable to the fact that many of our birds winter in the latter country, and in these cases some mingling takes place. But in other instances, also migratory species that visit Portugal during their travels, we each have our geographical race, and the forms keep dis- tinct. The author attributes the formation of these races to that strong home tie which takes the birds back in the spring time to the spot where they were reared, so that our English birds all come home and preserve their insular characters.
In The .Bird as a Diver we have the results of a long, pains- taking, and exhaustive research into the diving habit as exhibited among birds. It will supply the ornithologist with a mass of facts and observations, though the general reader tnay find it, however watery the subject, somewhat " dry going." But for such it is not intended
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