Birds of the Gauntlet. By H. von Michaelis. (Hutchinson, London, 1952). 84s. The author is a deservedly successful artist and writer, portraying in this book birds which he has known at close quarters. All, except a European Kestrel, are South African species: eagles, falcons, hawks, owls; also, despite the title of the book, geese, ducks, and a swan. Personally I prefer the drawings, which are liberally scattered through the book, to the coloured plates, of which there are eight. Particularly skilful is the soft, fluffy appearance which he gives to young birds in down. The text makes enjoyable reading, vivid and well-written. Much of it is devoted to the author's experiences in rearing, taming and hawking with birds of prey. He undoubtedly has a great flair for handling birds, nevertheless he says " I am conscious enough of all those little gravestones occasioned by my own failures . . . The only reasonably safe way of seeing a bird grow up is achieved by leaving it in its nest under the expert care of its parents." In the last chapter or two he discusses some of the basic effects on flying birds of wind (drift) and thermal currents, which as a pilot and glider pilot he appreciates better than most ornithologists, and on which he speaks with authority. When he comes to navigation and homing, however, he seems on less sure ground, and claims that " we must accept as fact that some kind of force is sent out from
Volume: 
Issue 10
Authors: 
Hollom, P. A. D
Alexander, W. B
Hollom, P. A. D
Alexander, W. B

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