Bibliographical Notices. 143 



very highest authority in this curious genus, and his determination, 

 even if it had not agreed with our own, would be conclusive. 



And now we conclude our notice of this valuable addition to our 

 botanical literature, merely adding that, if any of the plates can be 

 selected as especially admirable, they are those of the Equiseta, 

 which it seems to us that it would be impossible to surpass. 



We need scarcely add that we strongly recommend the book to 

 our readers. 



Catalogue of a Collection of American Birds belonging to Philip 

 Lutley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Sec. Z.S., Editor of 

 'The Ibis.' Illustrated by 20 Plates. 8vo, pp. 338. London: 

 Triibner & Co. 1862. 



Of late we have heard so much respecting the number of acres 

 which model museums of natural history are said to require for their 

 proper exhibition, that it may astonish some of our readers to learn 

 that one of the most extensive collections in existence, illustrating 

 the ornithology of the New World, is " arranged with the greatest 

 ease in ten small cabinets measuring about 2 feet 1 inch by 1 foot 

 6 inches, and 3 feet in height." Such, however, is the case with that 

 of Dr. Sclater, who has just published, under the title above quoted, an 

 admirable list of his treasures, which will be found indispensable to 

 those who are interested in that branch of study. This collection 

 contains, we are told, about 4100 specimens, representing 2170 spe- 

 cies, and is consequently among the largest ever brought together 

 by any private person. The readers of these pages need not be told 

 that the energetic proprietor of this comprehensive half- score of 

 cabinets is one of the first ornithologists living ; and the publication 

 which we now briefly notice is well calculated to increase his reputa- 

 tion. 



A work of this character, if reviewed at all, ought to be taken 

 (as Napoleon defeated his antagonists) in detail ; we therefore abstain 

 from further comment, only observing that the synonymy of the 

 species, and what is of no less importance, their geographical distri- 

 bution, appears, as far as we are able to judge, to have been elaborated 

 with great care. We will, however, take this opportunity of en- 

 forcing the growing conviction among naturalists, that the practical 

 use of a zoological museum is commensurate with its adaptation for 

 real work, and, consequently, that its true value, from that point of 

 view, consists in its capability for being readily consulted. This 

 condition is only to be obtained by a series of unmounted skins, 

 such as that which forms the collection of the talented Secretary 

 of the Zoological Society of London, and the abundant wealth of 

 which this Catalogue is intended to reveal to the ornithological 

 public. 



