180 Recent Literature. [ ZOE 
In General Notes, Mr. R. H. Lawrence records the capture of 
two California jays near Vancouver, Washington, as the first rec- 
ord for that State. The occurrence there of the species is of inter- 
est, but was first noted by Nuttall, who met with them near Fort 
Vancouver. . 
Mr. T. S. Palmer adds four species to the list of birds of Gray’s 
- Harbor, Washington, published in the January number of the Azk, 
to which list a few dozen more additions are given by Mr. Hub- 
bard in the present number of this journal. W.E.B. 
The Humming Birds. By RoBERT RipGway. Rep. Nat. Mus. 
1890, 253-383, plates i-xlvi. To one having even the slightest 
- inclination toward a love for birds to begin this volume is to read it 
through. Probably no single family of birds has réceived more at- 
tention from naturalists, nor admiration from all, than the humming 
birds, of which there are about five hundred recognized species and 
varieties entirely confined to the New World. 
The work is virtually divided into two parts, the first treating of 
the general subject under divisions into topics. Early History. 
Names and their Origin. Geographical Distribution. Migrations. 
Habits. Abundance of Individuals. Actions and Attitudes. Man- 
ner of Flight. Disposition. Intelligence. Nests and Eggs, with 
which are given fourteen plates of illustrations, in black and white, 
principally after Gould. Voice. Food. Characters and Relation- 
ships, illustrated by an enlarged drawing, by Mr. Lucas, of the 
skeleton of Trochilus colubris,and by figures showing the ptery- 
losis of a humming bird. Variations, treating of the size, bill, wing, 
tail, tail-coverts, are fully illustrated, there being seven plates of 
outlines of tails. Head Ornaments, etc. Colors of ‘the Plumage, 
with nine plates illustrating fifteen species. Cause of the Change- 
able Hues of Humming Birds, closing with Brief Descriptions of 
some of the more Brilliantly Colored Kinds. Throughout the 
foregoing pages the technical name is mainly subordinated, and each 
topic is so fascinating that one wishes there were more of it, as well 
as of the humming bird verse which appears in appropriate places. 
The second part, as it may be conveniently termed, treats of the 
Humming Birds of the United States, illustrated by twelve plates 
representing thirteen species and twenty-three specimens, in black 
and white drawings. Subgeneric names have been used in place of 
