The Zoologist/3rd series, vol 1 (1877)/Issue 8/Notices of New Books
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.
The best way of reviewing a new edition is obviously to compare it with the original. In the present case, however, this would scarcely be fair, for a glance only is needed to show that the editor has nearly doubled the size of the work by extending the boundaries of the region treated of, from the twenty-eighth parallel of latitude (the limit originally fixed by the author) to the Zambesi on the east coast, and the Quanza on the west coast of Africa. It should be remembered also that when Mr. Layard wrote his book, in 1867, he did so under great disadvantages. Far removed from European libraries and collections, he was prevented from making many references and comparisons that were most desirable, and in many cases he had to rely upon naturalists at home for the identification of the rarer and more obscure species. In view of these difficulties, the wonder is that his shortcomings have proved to be so few. It may be truly said that, with the exception perhaps of Jerdon's 'Birds of India,' no work has done more for the Ornithology of a country than this of Mr. Layard's, and no greater proof of its utility can be found than the large increase in the number of workers who have commenced original researches in Ornithology since it appeared.
In preparing this new edition, it is evident that Mr. Sharpe has bestowed upon it considerable time and trouble. Not content with revising the text so as to bring it lo a level with the knowledge of the present day, he has carefully gone through all the works bearing on the subject published prior to the first edition, and has reproduced the excellent notes by Mr. Ayres on the birds of Natal which Mr. Layard for want of space was compelled to omit.
Especial pains seem to have been taken with the geographical distribution, the range of the various birds being carefully traced throughout the different districts of South Africa.
Some reviewers, we observe, have found fault with the omission of the characters of the families and genera which were given in the original work; but these were avowedly compiled, and not always accurate, and the space previously occupied by these paragraphs is now filled by a vast amount of original matter which is much more to the purpose.
Some idea of the way in which the scope of the book has been extended may be gathered from the fact that in the four parts already issued 322 species occupy 336 pages royal octavo, while in the original work the same number of species occupied only 163 pages demy octavo.
Ten species of Raptorial birds not found in the old edition are included in the new, and a proportionate increase in other orders is apparent as the work progresses.
The following are described as new for the first time:—Caprimulgus fervidus (page 86), Andropadus hypoxanthus (p. 205), Crateropus Kirkii (p. 213), Æthocichla, a new genus with the type Æ. gymnogenys, Hartlaub (p. 215), Neocichla, a new genus with the type N. gutturalis, Bocage (p. 215), Pinarornis plumosus (p. 230), Saxicola Layardi (p. 236), Saxicola Shelleyi (p. 246), Saxicola Andersoni (p. 249), Drymœca hypoxantha (p. 260), Acrocephalus fulvolateralis (p. 288), and Zosterops atmori (p. 326).
The coloured plates in this edition add considerably to the attractiveness and utility of the work. Four parts are already issued; we presume as many more will be necessary to complete it.
Although this is not a recently published work, having been issued in parts at Prague and completed in 1871, it is only recently that arrangements have been made for its publication in London, and as it is very little known in this country, certainly not so much as it deserves to be, we think it right to direct attention to it. Dr. Fritsch's 'Birds of Europe' is chiefly remarkable for the beautiful atlas of plates which accompanies the letterpress, wherein all the birds mentioned in the text are coloured with a softness and fidelity to nature which at once commends them to the critical eye of the ornithologist. The figures are rather small, perhaps, but they convey an accurate idea of form and colour, if not always of relative size; and the possessor of any European bird-skin could not fail to identify the species from the plates, even if he had not the letterpress to assist him. In addition to the scientific names and synonyms, the name of each species is given in German and French, followed by a description of the species and a brief account of haunts and habits.
We are not sure about the cost of the work in England, but Messrs. Trübner & Co., who are the agents for the sale in this country, can supply information on this point, and will no doubt be glad to show a copy to any one desirous of inspecting it.
The aim and scope of this useful annual cannot be too widely made known. To those who are unacquainted with its nature it may be described as a book of reference for working zoologists, containing, in the shape of an annual volume, a complete index to the zoological literature of the year preceding that of its publication. No matter what branch of Zoology the reader may be interested in, he has only to turn to the proper page to ascertain all that has been written on that particular subject during the previous year, including notices not only of separate volumes, but even of essays and articles from every zoological journal of note.
Nor is it a mere index; for short abstracts of the more important publications are given, and the general scope of each article is indicated. To working zoologists the 'Record' is especially useful, as facilitating research and directing attention to recently published works and essays, both English and foreign, which bear upon the particular subject they may have in hand. The volume closes with an index to the new genera and subgenera which have been described in the course of the year.
- ↑ The Zoological Record, vol. 12 (1877) online at the Biodiversity Heritage Library (Wikisource-ed.)