12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



looks for the production of literature of a very superior kind, and 

 is certainly not disappointed while turning over the pages of 

 Special Bulletin No. 3, for it is impossible to speak too highly in 

 its praise. The work is in quarto form, and contains the life- 

 histories of the different species of Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Wood- 

 peckers, Goatsuckers, Swifts, Humming-birds, Tyrant Flycatchers, 

 Larks, Crows, Jays, Magpies, Blackbirds, Orioles, Crackles, &c, 

 &c. It is indeed fortunate that the United States National 

 Museum possesses in Captain Bendire an honorary oological 

 curator to whom the preparation of this vast amount of informa- 

 tion has been a labour of love. Most of it is the result of his 

 own observations in the field extending over a period of many 

 years, and he is ably assisted by various correspondents, whose 

 names appear in different parts of the volume. The geographical 

 distribution, habits, and food of each species are fully and 

 accurately given ; also that most difficult part of a bird's history, 

 the sounds of its varied notes, whether of love, alarm, or anger. 

 Especial attention has been paid to the nests and eggs of each 

 species, and of the latter not only have typical specimens been 

 described, but all the known varieties ; and many of them are of 

 the writer's own collecting. The plates of eggs are admirable, 

 and have been reproduced from water-colour drawings made by 

 Mr. John L. Ridgway, of Washington. They are simply perfect, 

 and could not be surpassed. In many valuable ornithological 

 works the chromo-lithographic representations of birds' eggs, 

 although accurate in colour and markings, are flat, and appear 

 like sections, but in the present volume the figures are beautifully 

 worked up, and possess a certain roundness which gives one as 

 much pleasure as looking at the actual eggs. The work is well 

 printed, and ranks among the best contributions to ornithological 

 literature. It is to be hoped that Captain Bendire will finish as 

 far as possible the complete " Life-Histories of North American 

 Birds." — A. J. N. 10th April, 1897. 



PS. — It is my painful duty to add an obituary note to the 

 above review. By the American mail just to hand, 28th April, I 

 have received from Mr. A. K. Fisher, of the U.S. Department of 

 Agriculture, a notification of the death of Captain Chas. Bendire, 

 at Jacksonville, Florida, where he had gone in the hopes of gaining 

 a respite from Bright's disease, from which he had been suffering 

 for some time past. It is not my intention to pass any eulogies 

 here on the late Captain Bendire, although he will be greatly 

 missed by lovers of ornithology in all parts of the world. His 

 kindly nature, exhibited in his communications, is shown all 

 through his works, and the latter form a fitting and enduring 

 memorial of his successful life-work. — A. J. N. 



