NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 67
are as complete as might be expected, in view of the fact that Mr. Harting
has now spent some thirty years in perfecting them.
The Summary consists merely of a useful classified List of British Birds,
in which the residents and migrants are distinguished from the rare visitants.
The illustrations, from drawings by the late Prof. Schlegel, are among
the best of their kind that have yet appeared. They show, it is true, no more
than the head and foot of each species; but these portions are sufficient for
identification in, practically, all cases; and it will be obvious that, had the
whole of each bird been shown, the book could not have been issued in one
volume or at the price.
In general respects, there is little to criticise. Mr. Harting's "Intro-
duction" shows, however, considerable (though by no means uncommon)
confusion of idea as to the respective natures of a "Preface" and an
"Introduction," being, in truth, both rolled into one. In the text, too we
occasionally meet (especially in Part I.) with remarks which, though
admirable in themselves, seem slightly foreign to the author's general plan ;
whilst here and there, points might have been, we think, somewhat more
concisely expressed. These matters are, however, comparatively-unimportant
trifles which the critic would not think worthy of notice in any but a book of
the highest standing.
The format and "get-up" of the volume may be commended as highly as
its subject-matter. The printing is excellent; the binding is plain, but in
admirable taste; and there is a good index. The new edition is indispensable
to every British bird-student. Within its limits, it approaches perfection. It
would be hard, indeed, to imagine any very serious blemish in a work by so
competent a writer, the proofs of which had been criticised by the three
gentlemen named above.
We may add, in conclusion, that the Essex Field Club is indebted to Mr.
Harting (one of its Honorary Members) for a copy of his work, which he has
generously presented to the Library.
NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
ZOOLOGY.
MAMMALIA.
The Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) flying by Day.—On May
16th, 1901, going into my garden just before one o'clock, I noticed what I took
at first for some kind of bird fluttering about in a sheltered spot between some
trees close to the house. Going nearer, I saw at once that it was a Long-
eared Bat, hawking for flies. While I watched it, it had a short chase after a
small white Butterfly, which escaped ; but it was engaged chiefly in hawking
for the insects gathered round the flowers of a horse-chestnut tree. Once I
saw it snap at a Humble Bee that was visiting the flowers. Its flight seemed
feeble and it kept low down among the trees at one spot, but it did not seem
particularly incommoded by the light, though it was so, probably, in reality;
for it settled several times on the trunk of an adjacent fir-tree, clinging with its
hind claws, head downward, with its ears fully extended. Once, whilst so settled
it allowed me nearly to catch it. Once, too, I saw it fly into a large sequoia.