New and forthcoming Ornithological Works, ^c. 191 



most. To those who believe in the doctrine of evolution " indi- 

 vidual variation," " climatic variation," &c. are but the first steps 

 in the series which culminates in creatures, we might say, as wide 

 as the poles asunder. 



A valued contributor has recently sent us number 14 (Jan. 19, 

 1872) of volume iv. of the ' Cornell Era,' " published every 

 Friday by students of the Junior Class at the University [Cornell] 

 press," wherein we find a letter signed " T. W. J. Jr." giving 

 Professor Baird's and Dr. Coues's opinions as to the validity of 

 a certain Grouse described in the number of ' The Era ' for the 

 8th of December, 1871, as Bonasa jobsii. Both these high 

 authorities unite in saying that the supposed species is based on 

 a somewhat abnormal specimen of Bonasa umbellus. One remark 

 of Professor Baird's quoted in this letter is significant : he writes, 

 " When I published my work on the birds of North America I 

 was in what might be called the analytical stage of Natural- 

 History development. My present condition is synthetical. I 

 take more pains now to subordinate forms, once considered spe- 

 cific, than I do to establish them as such." 



The first part of GiebeFs 'Thesaurus'* has lately reached us. 

 It contains, in the first place, references to the works of authors 

 arranged under a number of headings ; then follows the com- 

 mencement of an alphabetical enumeration of the species and 

 genera of birds. As it would be premature to discuss the merits 

 of this latter portion, we will merely remark that the first word 

 (p. 255) contains a palpable misprint ! We must confess that, 

 having expected great things from this work (Ibis, 1871, p. 251), 

 a perusal of this first portion has produced in us a feeling of 

 great disappointment. In the first place the classification of the 

 various works of authors under their respective names is so com- 

 plex that it is difficult to know where to look for any specific 

 work or paper. We could aff'ord to overlook this unnecessary 

 complication were the papers themselves placed with even ordi- 



* Thesaurus Ornitbologiae. Repertorium der gesammten ornitholo- 

 gischen Literatur und Nonienclator samnitlicher Gattungen imd Avten 

 der Vfigel, nebst Synoiiymen und geographisclier Verbreitung, von Dr. C. 

 G. Giebel, Professor an der Universitat in Halle. Leipzig, 1872. Erster 

 Ilalbband. Large Svo, pp. 400 (F. A. Brocldiaus). 



p 2 



