496 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



Dr. Coues has most laboriously brought together every 

 reference he could to the species he writes about. The list of 

 these references in many cases makes half, and in some a 

 whole page of closely printed text. Looking at these formi- 

 dable lists one cannot help asking where this is to end. Are 

 references to be repeated again and again, even when fully 

 given in works of easy access ? The time ajjpears to us to 

 have come when some more rigid selection should be exer- 

 cised, and those references only given Avhich tend to throw 

 light upon a subject under discussion. Of what use is it, for 

 instance, to give a reference to Gray's ^ Hand-list,' when, on 

 turning to its pages, no information beyond the name is 

 imparted ? 



It will be seen that this work has been some time passing 

 through the press ; for Dr. Coues's introductory letter is dated 

 13tli May 1873, whilst the last sheet of the letterpress is 

 signed Dec. 1874*. This doubtless accounts for some recent 

 corrections referring to the nomenclature of American birds 

 not having been adopted ; for instance, Mr. Ridgway's error 

 respecting the affinity of Scojjs trichopsis, Wagler, corrected 

 in ' The Ibis ' for last year (1874, p. 314), is repeated (p. 303), 

 and Mr. Ridgway's determination confirmed, it is said, by an 

 examination of the typical specimens. Not typical of S. tri- 

 chopsis, surely ! the types of which species, if they are in ex- 

 istence at all, are in the Museum at Wiirtzburg. 



In his monograph of the North- American Laridss Dr. Coues 

 travels over old ground, enlarging and correcting his previous 

 essay on the same subject published in 1863. There are one or 

 two points in nomenclature of some species from which we 

 withhold our assent ; but otlierwise we can speak in terms of 

 unqualified praise both of this monograph and those on Colym- 

 bidse and Podicipitidse, which follow. As regnYdsXema f areata 

 (why usually vfTitten fur catum we know not), the non-appear- 

 ance of which has so long puzzled American ornithologists, the 

 following note may throw some light on this obscure point. 

 So far as we know, only two specimens exist in museums : — 



* Mr. Ridgway tells us (Bull. Geol. & Geogr. Suit. ISio, p. 57) tliut it 

 vvas not issued till February 1875. 



