Abstract
SINCE Iceland lies on one of the main migration routes, namely, that which starts from Greenland and Iceland itself, and passes by the Fasroes to the British Islands, its bird-fauna is naturally of special interest and importance. This is testified by the appearance within a comparatively short period of two works on the subject, namely, Mr. H. N. Slater's “Manual of the Birds of Iceland,” published at Edinburgh in 1901, and the present larger and more pretentious volume. In addition to the general fauna, there is special interest attaching to Iceland as the chief European resort in former days of the gare-fowl, or great auk. The history of this lost bird and the literature relating to it the author reserves for a supplemental volume. Despite all that has been done by travellers and collectors, Mr. Hantzsch is of opinion that our knowledge of the bird-fauna of Iceland is still far from complete, much of the interior of the country being difficult of access and still imperfectly explored by collectors. Accordingly he is fain to admit that the last word on the subject still remains to be said.
Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Vogelwelt Islands.
By B. Hantzsch. Pp. vi + 341; illustrated. (Berlin: Friedländer and Son, 1905.) Price 12 marks.
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L., R. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Vogelwelt Islands . Nature 72, 454 (1905). https://doi.org/10.1038/072454a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/072454a0