Book News and Reviews
Wild Life at Home : How to Study and
Photograph It. By Richard Kearton,
F. Z. S. Fully Illustrated by Photo-
graphs taken Direct from Nature by
C. Kearton. Cassell & Company, Ltd.,
London, Paris, New York, and Mel-
bourne, 1898. i2mo. , pp. xiv + 188.
Numerous half-tones. Price, $1.50.
In this book, Mr. Kearton and his
brother show that their patience and in-
genuity, as well as their field of work,
are inexhaustible. It differs from ' With
Nature and a Camera ' chiefly in being
addressed more especially to photogra-
phers, the opening chapters being devoted
to a description of the outfit required,
with practical suggestions as to its use.
These are followed by chapters on ' Birds, '
'Mammals', 'Insects,' and the life of
' Pond, River and Seashores. ' The
illustrations are fully up to the standard
of previous work by the same authors,
which we have before had occasion to
praise so highly, and continued experi-
ence with a camera leads us to appreciate
more fully than ever the truly marvellous
pictures they have secured. Mr. Kearton 's
paper in this number of Bird-Lore ad-
mirably illustrates the practicability of
his advice to naturalist-photographers,
who, in ' Wild Life at Home ' will find
both instruction and encouragement. The
book should be in every naturalist's
library, whether or not he uses a camera.
F. M. C.
Birds. By Annie M. Grant. Report of
the R. I. Board of Agriculture, 1899.
The Birds of Ontario, in Relation to
Agriculture. By Chas. W. Nash, On-
tario Department of Agriculture,
Toronto.
In Mrs. Grant's paper we have an
epitome of a great amount of useful in-
formation. The horticultural and agri-
cultural societies are doing a good work in
publishing such papers in their reports,
thus ensuring to them a wide circulation
among the class who most need this kind of
literature.
In that portion of her paper devoted to
the 'Decrease in Bird-life,' Mrs. Grant
puts her finger on some very sore spots.
There can be no doubt that much harm
has been done through egg-collecting by
pseudo-naturalists, who make no use of
their collections except to boast of their
size and rarity, and who gather thousands
of extra sets for purposes of exchange.
Another element of bird destruction is
seen in the South, where our common
singing birds are so generally offered for
sale in the market as food. A campaign
of education is needed here. The time
wasted in shooting these useful creatures
would, if properly applied, produce more
and better meat in the shape of domestic
poultry, or other equally palatable food.
We hope Mrs. Grant will continue her
good work.
In Mr. Nash's paper we have another
concise statement of the facts with re-
gard to the usefulness of birds from an
agricultural point of view. The case of
the birds of prey is very clearly and for-
cibly presented. When these birds do
harm — as when they pick up a stray
chicken — the evil is open and apparent
to everybody ; but the good work they
are constantly doing is only appreciated
after the most careful and systematic ob-
servation. The depredations of the vast
hordes of small mammals is a constant
menace to the interests of husbandry,
and more especially to horticulture.
Without question, the Hawks and Owls
are the most efficient checks upon the in-
crease of these creatures, and it cannot
be too often or too forcibly impressed
upon the farmers that these birds should
be rigorously protected.
With regard to the other birds, the
case is equally well put, and illustrated
by many interesting and valuable obser-
vations and experiments. There can be
no question that this is a valuable pa-
per, and that it deserves a wide circu-
lation among agricultural people.
As to the merits of the illustrations
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