has written a work on ornithology, giving a complete account of the present state 

 and results of that science." — 7'he Literary Dtdlethi, Oct., 1872. 



"The fortlicoming work of Dr. Elliott Cones on ornitliology will belong dis- 

 tinctively to the u&cfu' class of manuals, and be especially adapted to the require- 

 ments of students, amateurs and teachers. No work of this character, profesting 

 to teach ornithology to the uninitiated, and susceiitible of use as a text-book in 

 eduofttional institutions, has hitherto appeared. Those with a taste for tliis t-tudy, 

 who have been deterred from its pursuit by llie difficulty of mastering the techni- 

 calities in the absence of a suitable guide, Avill And the way made perfectly clear 

 to them."— The Golden Age, Sept. 7, 1872. 



"Dr. Cones has written an admirable book on North American Birds."— Balti- 

 more Bulletin, March 8, 1873. 



" No expense has been spared in the preptu-ation of this volume. The woodcuts 

 are so well executed they would easily pass for something belter. The index is 

 complete; ao is the glossary." — Chicago Times. 



"The descriptions are exceedingly complete and minute; the large number of 

 illustrations serve to make tlie text more clearly understood, and tlie volume is a 

 very valuable contribution to ornithology."— i>os^o« Journal, Jan. 28, 1873. 



"The book has been carefully prepared and contains a vast amount of informa- 

 tion. * * * It is a book of inestimable value to the naturalist, and thould be 

 found in the library of every such person tliroughout the \-M\i\."-— Boston Traveller. 



"•' A more elegant scientific publication than tl.e 'Key to North American Birds,' 

 just issued by this house, is not to be found. This work, of which Elliott Cones, 

 M. D., is the author, forms a very valuable and exhaustive treatise upon the birds 

 of the continent north of Mexico. Tlie large number of plates and of woodcuts, 

 renders it especially interesting, and the style of its publication is almost sump- 

 tuous." — Boston Post. 



"Some of our distinguished men of science seem to have placed their collections 

 and their suggestions at the service of Mr. Coues, but he is fundamentally an 

 original exploicr. Nobody can look over the beautilul book Milhout leeling that 

 the author has added to ornithology as well as farni-hed its North American -Key.' 

 Wc wish we knew enough about the subject to convict him of a few mistakes. 

 Having, however, great respect for specialists, we never venture to intrude an 

 opinion we have not earned the right to give by special study. It is a modest ab- 

 dication of an insolent tyranny, but wc make it with satisfiiction. It would bo 

 cruel, perhaps, to disturb the useful superstition that notices of books are omnis- 

 cient and infallible. Still, we reluctantly confess that Mr. Coues is alicad of us in 

 his particular branch of knowledge, and we have submitted to the intolerable 

 ignominy of learning sometliing from him with a keen sense of pleasure. Indeed 

 this "Key to North American Bil■d^>" is a volume wliicii will attract all naturalists 

 for its accuracy of descrijilion and its contributions to the Mork of intelligent 

 classilication." — Boston Ghbe. 



" And the high commendalion it has received, from competent authorities in this 

 country and England, is even more than justilied by the accuracy of description, 

 the fulness of detail, the convenience of classification, and the admirable arrange- 

 ment of tlie volume. * * * Dr. Coues, still a young man, and connected with 

 the United States Army, has spent a long time in obtaining the materials for his 

 work; but in it industry is subordinate to tact, and art to genius. He is a born 

 naturalist. He is a close and Hue observer of all natural idienomeiia, and were 

 he wrecked on a rock in mid ocean he would commence scientific researches be- 

 fore his clothes were dry. * * * And he writes as will as he observes, in a 

 clear, accurate style, colorless in itself, but transmitting the native hues of the 

 objects he describes. And these qualities appear in the work before us. to en- 

 hance its value. * * * ^Ve have no hand-book of similar character, and none 

 that occupies the pl.ace it completely fill-."— Golden Age, July 5, 1873. 



