Recently published Ornithological Works. ] 33 



6. Beddard on the Structure and Classification of Birds. 



[The Structure and Classification of Birds. By Frank E. Beddard, 

 M.A., F.R.S., Prosector and Vice-Secretary of tlie Zoological Society of 

 Loudon. Longmans, Green & Co. 1898. 1 vol. 8vo. 548 pp.] 



Tills long-expected volume will, we are sure, be a most 

 useful book of reference to the ornithologist^ containing, as 

 it does, a complete summary of the present state of our 

 :knowledge of the structure of the large and varied Class 

 which forms the special subject of our studies. Fiirbringer's 

 huge volume is too ponderous and too lengthy, and Gadow's 

 excellent memoir (in Bronn's ' Tierreich ') is written in a 

 tongue not understood by all of us. Here we have a 

 conveniently-sized and excellently-illustrated handbook, 

 written in plain language which any one can understand, 

 and full of references for the guidance of those who wish to 

 enter more deeply into any special branch of the subject. 



We should have been glad, however, if the author had 

 stated his conclusions as to the best classification of birds 

 a little more definitely. We are all aware that no group of 

 animals can be satisfactorily arranged in a straight line, and 

 this is eminently true of the Class of Birds. In ordinary 

 work the ' Stammbaum ' is not available, and we must have 

 for common use a linear series beginning either at the top 

 or the bottom. We suppose that Mr. Beddard's ''picked " 

 series is that followed in the present volume, but it is not 

 quite clear that such is the ease, and we should prefer to 

 have no doubt on the matter. The place assigned to the 

 " Accipitres," considering their many Passerine characters, 

 seems to be rather low, and the " Sj)henisci,^^ in our opinion, 

 should be sunk nearly to the bottom of the series. 



Another group which appears to be treated rather slight- 

 ingly by Mr. Beddard is the "' Passeres " — which contains 

 more than half the known species of the whole Class of 

 Birds. Only five pages are allowed for its discussion, 

 whereas some five-and-thirty are assigned to the compara- 

 tively small group of " Struthiones."' We venture to suggest 

 that our friend might do well to give us a second volume 

 on the Structure and Classification of the Passeres, upon 



