554 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



The first portion of the present book (274 pages) eontains 

 a series of " keys " to the genera and species, which are 

 practically the same as those which first appeared in the 

 above-mentioned work. They are intended to enable the 

 enquirer to identify any bird without much trouble, and 

 seem to be well devised for that purpose, though the system 

 suggested is somewhat novel. The second part contains 

 descriptions of the 398 species of birds which are known 

 to occur in the two States of Illinois and Wisconsin. It 

 also gives an account of their nests and eggs, so far as they 

 are known, and of their geographical distribution, together 

 with more or less brief biographical notes. 



The arrangement employed is that of the American 

 ( Check-list/ though we observe that several " improve- 

 ments" on it are introduced. For instance, " Dumetella" 

 (p. 265) is substituted for " Galeoscoptes" ; but we are not 

 informed who is the authority for this emendation, or the 

 reason for it. Again, we regret to see that our old friend 

 " Trochilus" of Linnseus is to be superseded by Archilochvs ! 

 This, we are told, is the dictum of the Committee of the 

 A. O. U. on nomenclature, but the reason for the change is 

 (perhaps prudently) omitted. 



A great number of text-figures, mostly excellent, illustrate 

 Mr. Cory's work, and, together with the "keys," will render 

 it useful to the student. At the same time, we fear that the 

 great weight of the volume (caused by the heavy paper on 

 which it is printed) may somewhat interfere with its sale. 



58. Hartert on the Birds of Hainan. 



[The Birds of Hainan. By Ernst Hartert, Ph.D. Novitates Zoolopicse, 

 xvii. p. 180 (1910).] 



After a short disquisition on previous work on the birds 

 of Hainan, which was commenced by Swinhoe in 1868, and 

 continued by Whitehead, who lost his life in its dangerous 

 climate, Dr. Hartert proceeds to give us a complete account 

 of the series of specimens formed by a Japanese collector, 

 " Katsumata," who was sent to the island by Owston, of 



