86 Recent Literature. [January 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



A Naturalist's Rambles about Home.* — Under this taking title Dr. 

 Abbott has written a popular book — consisting in part of previously pub- 

 lished essays — on natural history, detailing in a pleasant way his long-con- 

 tinued observations on the habits of the beasts, birds, reptiles, and fishes 

 met with in his rambles in the immediate neighborhood of his home at 

 Trenton, New Jersey. Nearly one-half of the book (pp. 96-249 and 451- 

 47^ ) relates to birds, which are treated in Chapters XII-XXVII, in addition 

 to which an annotated list is given in the Appendix. As regards the birds, 

 the author's remarks, aside from the List, relate in the main to compara- 

 tively few species, many others, however, being mentioned incidentally. 

 The titles of the chapters are suggestive of the matter and method of treat- 

 ment. Under 'Our Birds in General' are noted changes in the habits and 

 distribution of certain species, as, for example, the Bluebird and Carolina 

 Wren, which are regarded as now resident species, though believed to have 

 been formerly migratory ; the Summer Redbird and Mockingbird of late 

 appear only as rare stragglers rather than as common summer residents. 

 as was formerly their status ; and other southern species are cited as of 

 much more common occurrence in winter than they were twenty years ago. 

 Under 'The Migration of Inland Birds' are discussed at some length various 

 phenomena of migration, to which are added speculations regarding the 

 cause of migration. 'A Short Study of Birds' Nests' gives detailed 

 observations on the nesting of several species, as the Baltimore Oriole. 

 Robin, etc.. the subject being considered with reference to Mr. Wallace's 

 well-known essay on the 'Philosophy of Birds' Nests.' whose views, Dr. 



Abbott finds, '-to a certain extent, at least will apply to our 



birds." A chapter is also devoted to -The Songs of Birds," ana others to 

 the following subjects: -Chats and Wrens: a Summer's Study': 'The 

 Carolina Wren: a Year of its Life'; 'Do Swallows Hibernate?' Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeaks' : 'Feeding Habits of Kingfishers'; 'The Saw-Whet 

 and other Owls': -Notes on our Herons': -Notes on the Wood Duck.' etc. 

 These chapters, and others with less explicit titles, abound with obser- 

 vations on various species of birds, interspersed quite freely with specula- 

 tions as to the cause of observed or suspected changes of habits, etc. 

 The chapter on the hibernation of Swallows attempts to account for the 

 belief in hibernation, and to explain the -testimony' that has come down 

 to us regarding alleged instances of hibernation. The hibernation of 

 Swallows the author believes to be merely 'a fancy'; but as regards our 

 Chimney Swift, the case seems somewhat different, and the author con- 

 fesses himself 'fairly staggered.' To this subject he contributes several 

 suggestive facts, such as the finding of living Chimney Swifts in a stove- 



*A Naturalist's Rambles about Home. By Charles C. Abbott. New York: D. 

 Appleton and Company, 1, 3, and 5 Bond Street, 1884. 8vo. pp. 485. 



