Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/168

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

out the East; while Willoughby writes that the Icelanders of his day were in the habit of snaring the Great Northern Diver. It may thus be seen that a history of fowling must embrace a wide area of observation, and might be treated ethnologically as well as ornithologically; in fact, should Mr. Macpherson issue a supplement to this very interesting work, or bring out a new edition of the same, he might with advantage peruse some ethnological literature, from which he would doubtless glean fresh facts.

This publication is a standard one, and is of more than ornithological interest; it will be consulted and quoted by the everincreasing number of anthropologists who study the evolution of human crafts and customs.

Note.—We have received the following communication from the author: —

The History of Fowling.—I should be glad if you would kindly allow me to correct, through 'The Zoologist,' a slight misconception which is embodied in the above work. The description of taking the Bush Warbler (Cettia cantans) in Japan, supplied at page 129, should refer to the Chinese Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) instead of to the former species. Both are favourite cage-birds in Japan.—H.A. Macpherson.


Elephant-Hunting in East Equatorial Africa. By Arthur H. Neumann. Rowland Ward, Limited.

Although the principal details of this book are of an Elephantor ivory-hunting description, its perusal will provide the zoologist with some facts and observations not only relating to the huge Proboscideans who were the principal aim of the expedition, but also as regards other animals with which the writer came in contact. There are also various conclusions scattered in its pages as to the restricted areas of Antelopes, &c, which will serve as material towards discussing some of the problems of specific separation.

Mr. Neumann started from Mombasa, and his two expeditions were confined to Eastern Equatorial Africa, a region still teeming with big game. He gives a verbal picture of the profuse animal life he met with on one of his excursions from El Bogoi. A large patch of thorn forest, fairly open, was "simply filled with Elephants standing, mostly in clumps, here and there all through it."

"Such a sight I never beheld. It reminded me of pictures in