VOL. 11. ] —LRecent Literature. ee 181 
the generic names adopted by the A. O. U., and Se/asphorus floresit 
in places instead of 7rochilus floresit or T. rubromitratus. Analyses 
of species and full descriptions are given, as also a ‘‘key to the 
genera of humming bird occurring in the United States, Mexico, 
- Cuba and the Bahamas,’’ adapted from the author’s “ Manual of 
North American Birds.” Opinions will differ regarding placing 
Anna’s humming bird as the most beautiful of North American 
hummers; in California the popular vote would be cast for an adult 
male Allen’s or rufous humming bird, excepting, of course, the 
strageler Floresi’s humming bird. W.E.B. 
Outlines of Zoology. By J. ARTHUR THomson, M.A., F.R.S.E. 
In this volume Prof. Thomson has presented the students of zoology 
with a very valuable general guide. It is essentially a book for be- 
- ginners rather than for more advanced students, the ground covered 
being so extensive that no great attention to minute details is pos- 
sible. The work is especially adapted to the requirements of the 
novice, from the fact that it is written in a very fascinating style and 
is clear and, for the most part, simple without any sacrifice of sci- . 
entific accuracy. Nearly a hundred pages of introduction deal 
with questions of general and fundamental scientific interest—clas- 
sification, physiology, cells and tissues, reproduction, heredity, 
geographical distribution, paleontology and evolution. This section 
is admirable for the terseness with which the ground is covered. 
As might be expected, the author lays some stress upon his own 
peculiar views with regard to metabolism, reproduction, etc., 
although these are in no wise unnecessarily obtruded. A noticeable 
innovation with regard to his classification is the inclusion of Balan- 
oglossus and Cephalodiscus among the vertebrates. In giving his 
reasons for so doing he says that in these two forms ‘‘ the verte- 
brate affinities are well marked, and we shall at least emphasize the 
fact that there are no hard and. fast lines of division if we place 
these two types at the beginning of the chordate series.” 
The body of the work is occupied with a short account of each 
class in the animal series. After a table showing the general clas- 
sification of a group is given a “survey of types,” under such top- 
ies as general life, general structure, minute structures (forms of 
cells, etc.), reproductive organs and development. The structure 
of each group is represented by a rather rough but clear diagram. 
