New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01

o,,o,,ro records Of actual forms and movements
SEEN The springbuck is interesting as MI. M'ia's
describes him. Sketched, he is even more ATTRACTIVE
For nearly two months Mr.. Millais observed MS
characteristic attitudes of fear fun anc repose' anu
finally he camped out for fortnight solely TOT INC
purpose OF watching the nimble antelopes WIN
telescope and sketching their antics at al" 'io"' -
rho day The resultant plate Is extremely sug-
gestive: less minute, of course than one Oh MI
Muybr.dge's Photographic plates would BE- Out o'
the whole as clearly indicative OF the sprihso"N
character as though a camera had been useo'
Mr. Miais is as clever with his pencil as ne Is
w,th his pen and save that the frontspece oy DIT
John Mllals lends this volume the distinction Vi inc
lattcrs name, the versatile author Oh tne WI"
might easily have dispensed with all aid wnatso-
ever The plates In which he depicts LOCUST
storm the curious parasitical habits OF the rhhocer
"a bird ,he attack Of a number Of k!twttJ'es upon
a white-necked crow. and many other curious pie-
romena Of natural history are really brilliant eA
arpes of picturcsqueness, expression ana true wv
logical detail the work being marked III ea0h III"
stance by an artistic fusion OF these qua'ues "'-
common in pictures Of the sort inc lahtas.'' "a'
In which the bateleur eagle carries It's heao "n'e
hunting is most cleverly shown In the drawing
made by Mr. Millals. and in little points IKE 'nS
he is again and again Of service. II Is commonly
believed that the tai Of the wart-hog - heiu
straight up when the animal IL frishteheu' MI VII
lais notes that this Is Incorrect records t'at '"'
upper portion drops forward. like an ear Vi odi
lev" and presents a drawing which Illustrates MS
meaning not merely with cearness. but win str'k-
Ing effect To study the picture In THIS Voiume
OF lions attacking and hamstrnging a buha'o IS 10
receive an Impression of savage warfare wh'ch re-
calls the paintings and statuettes OF barye WIN
out causing Mr. Mlllais suffer in the comparison.
Barge was great artist. Mr. Mlllas Is an unas-
sumlng zoologst. But In the mere vitality ana
truth Of his designs the uninsplre1 EnSl'shman Is
ri,,, IT., III prp,1pr
be that Barge himself would have looked long ana
appreclatlvely upon these Illustrations.
Mr. Miais went 10 South Africa partly FOR Dig
game and this he not only found but studied with
the same thoroughness that was permitted by MS
less difficult subjects. All his lion talk is good. and
some OF IT, though destructive. as MI. MIilals au-
mlts Of the usual romantic conception OF leonine
lfe will be deeply rellshed by students OF Zoology
I'm sporting books" says Mr.. Milais. the Hon Is
commonly portrayed in the attitude OF roaring
with his head well up in the air, like stag Ihis
Is not the correct attitude The lion If close
" watched Will be seen TO emit his first moan IN
any position. and then draw his neck In and lower
his head. with extended Jaws. right down between
his fore paws. II about to be violently SICK
while at the same time the back is arched' ana
the whole animal bears appearance OF concern
tratei strain II is a position both undignfed and
ugly but II IL the true for lion doing proper
roar In standing position. When roaring lying
a dog barking" The character Of the sound emitted
by the roaring lion IL clovery shown by phonetic
description which Mr.. Mlllais presents. the roar
sustaining a magnificent crescendo until II changes
into a Prunt when II falls into a strange dimin-
uend) The description runs thus: 'Moan-ROAR
R-O-A-R-ROAR- ROar-roar-Gru grunt -grunt grunt
-grunt.grun. dying away" Mr.. Millas adds to
this amusing transcript the statement that "a man
may hear hons roar every night for month and
yet know nothing Of what they can do when bent
on a really vocal effort" Ills own experience was
fortunate. and. indeed the period covered by MS
book seems to have been crowded with exactly the
occurrences which his qualifications as sports
man and a naturalist deserved. Dom Pet. Boer
friend Of the authors asked him day how
much his pock would cost when completed About
two CT three pounds" the reply. Are they
all fools In England" asked the DutchInan
"Why. could buy a good cow for that here" Mr..
" Hats wonders II the public Will agree with Dom
Plei I, Is not likely. The book Is too good ana
for the sym?a thet!c reader must always be worth
more than a considerable number OF COWS.