i8o Recent Literature. [^oe 



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 Grav's 

 Harbor, Washington, published in the January number of the Aiik, 

 to which list a few dozen more additions are given by Mr. Hub- 

 bard in the present number of this journal. w. e.b. 



71ie Humming Birds. By Robert Ridgway. 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 received more at- 

 tention from naturalists, nor admiration from alh 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 Trochiliis colubris, and by figures showing the pterv- 

 losis of a humming bird. Variations, treating of the size, bill, wing, 

 tail, tail-coverts, are fully illustrated, there being seven plates ot 

 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 Brilliantlv Colored Kinds. Throus^hout 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 



