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From the American Naturalist, August, 1871. 



; f -V 



Progress of American Ornithology. — Mr. Allen's* latest, 

 and in all respects his most valuable, memoir embraces several 

 distinct essays, for which the Mammals f and Winter Birds of 

 Florida seem to fui'uish merely the occasion, and are, at any rate, 

 overshadowed by the importance of the general questions dis- 

 cussed. He has worked long and faithfully upon a subject of 

 broad interest, and his labors will receive attention, no less from 

 those who differ from him, than those whom he convinces. Stand- 

 ing squarely opposed to the great majority of ornithologists, 

 his arguments must be refuted, or his position endorsed. In our 

 present character of unwilling critic, we endeavor to speak in the 

 same earnest spirit of inquiry that tempers Mr. Allen's page ; and 

 may possibly succeed in showing how trivial is the real point at 

 issue between Mr. Allen and those of us from whom he appears to 

 differ so Avidely. 



Mr. Allen's lists and field notes, which result from several 

 months investigation, are collated with Mr. Maynard's and Mr. 

 Boardman's, and " may be considered as equivalent collectively 

 to the labors of a single observer constantly in the field for at 

 least four or five winters." (p. 161.) They are properly prefaced 

 with a sketch of the physical features of the country, from which 



* On the Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida, with an examination of Certain 

 Assumed Specific Chai-acters in Birds, and a sketch of the Bird-faunaj of Eastern North 

 America. By J. A. Allen. BulleXin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology . Vol. 11, 

 No. 3. pp. 161-451. pis. 4-8. 1871. 



fThe list of Mammals comprises thirty- five species, among them the Trichechus man- 

 atus, " still quite common in the Indian River," and a large bat, probably one of the 

 West Indian Megadermatidce new to our fauna, but unfoitunately not identifled. Here 

 as elsewhei-e, the writer's extreme views are conspicuous in the several synonymical 

 lists, and technical discussions. In the case of " Ursus arctos " we may observe that 

 even those who might assent to the identity of our gi-izzly with the huge bears of 

 Northern Europe, would not admit U. Americanus to be a mere synonym. 



