Recent Literature. 167 



trated, each illustration selected with a view to its bearing upon the 

 subject under discussion. The title of the book sufficiently illustrates 

 the character of its contents. Suffice it to say in this brief review 

 that the State of Massachusetts has set an example which can be 

 followed by other states with profit to their citizens. The excel ence 

 of the work accomplished attests the fitness of the author foi toe 

 task assigned to him. 



The Birds of Missouri ^ is a most welcome addition to our faunal 

 literature, and coming, as it does, after the discouraging '^^|d ^listress^ 

 ing loss of the first prepared manuscript, is a satisfaction both to the 

 author and to his friends who feared that his long years of caretul 

 work might be lost. This is the first catalog of the birds of the whole 

 state of Missouri, and the designation "A Preliminary Catalog, ad- 

 mirably illustrates the modesty of the author, whose thirty years of 

 field work in that state certainly gives him the right to have adopt- 

 ed a more pretentious title. 



The Introduction, Bibliography, Explanations, Faunal Areas, The 

 Climate, Topography, Decrease of Birds, and Bii-d P^-ot-tion are 

 topics which occupy the first twenty pages. In the fol o^^.ng -4(. 

 pages the author treats 383 species of birds, thirty of which he re- 

 gards as hypothetical, but occurring in adjacent regions within rea- 

 sonable distances of Missouri. Each of the hypothetical species ^s 

 bracketed and placed in its proper systematic position m the li.t. 

 We commend this practice. 



The body of the book is given to the annotations accompanying 

 the names of the species, its general geographical distribution dis- 

 tribution in Missouri, migrations, and other pertinent notes, es- 

 peciallv the type of locality where rare birds may be found. 



The print is large and clear, and the typographical erroi-s few. 

 It is a valuable addition to ornithological literature, and we congiat- 

 ulate the author and the Academy of Science of St. Louis upon^its 

 appearance. 



the more common and useful species of|^I--'^<^^"^^"^' "f^^^^^^^^^^^ 

 of their food habits,|and a chapter on the means of attiactlmg and 

 protecting birds. | By] Edward Howe Forbush,| Ornithologist to the 

 M^^chietts slate' Board oflAgriculture.|Illustrated by the a.. 

 thor,|C. Allan Lyford, Chester A. Reed, and others. Published under 

 the direction ofjthe Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. j by 

 authority of the Legislature. 



^A Preliminary Catalog|of thelBirds of Missouri,] by 1 Otto Wid- 

 mann,lSt. Louis, Mo. 11907. 



