246 



Recent Literature. [J u 'y 



work of a veteran observer, who, if not a prolific writer, has nevertheless 

 maintained his interest in ornithology for a quarter of a century, in the 

 light of which experience he now treats of the birds of Ontario. Mr. Mcll- 

 wraith was in the field in 1S60 and 1S61, when he published* notices of the 

 birds of Hamilton, afterwards systematized in a 'List of Birds observed 

 near Hamilton, Canada West't, noting 241 species as a result of ten years' 

 observation. This present work is the outcome of an address 'On Birds 

 and Bird Matters' delivered before the Hamilton Association April 2, 

 1S85, when the author promised to prepare a freely-annotated list of the 

 birds of that locality. He was then busy in hunting up Canadian observ- 

 ers for the Migration Committee of the A. O. U., and in position to 

 sound the depths of the ignorance of ornithology among persons fairly 

 well informed on things in general. In due process of evolution the mat- 

 ter took the present shape of a systematic manual of the subject, such as 

 would enable any one to identify the birds that should be met with in On- 

 tario. The Hamilton Association published the address in their 'Proceed- 

 ings' of one year, and the history of each species the next, the present 

 volume being the result. 



The work treats formally of upwards of 250 species (as we judge, with- 

 out actually counting them), giving first a concise technical description, 

 then the general habitat, and a formal statement of the nest and eggs, fol- 

 lowed by local biographical items. Such a work cannot fail to prove of 

 interest and usefulness. It places Canadian Ornithology more nearly au 

 courant with the progress of the science in other parts of America, and 

 easily advances its author to the first place in his own field. We could 

 wish it wore a more attractive face typographically, but the sad printing, 

 perhaps unavoidable under the circumstances, lessens the value of no sci- 

 entific facts which the book presents. — E. C. 



Mcllwraith's Birds of Ontario. — At the request of a few of the promi- 

 nent members of the A. O. U., I have prepared the following notes con- 

 cerning the 'Birds of Ontario', by Thos. Mcllwraith, Hamilton, Ont., 

 pointing out and correcting some errors which have occurred in that 

 work. 



The eggs of the Bob-white are described as pure white, no mention be- 

 ing made of the characteristic stains of light buff which are almost invar- 

 iably found. 



Those of the Ruffed Grouse are buff, not cream-color, as stated. 



The Marsh Hawk is said to lay white eggs "blotched or speckled with 

 brown," but in reality its eggs are nearly always pure white, sometimes 

 with a few spots, hut probably never blotched. 



Those of the Baltimore Oriole are stated to be "white, faintly tinged 

 with blue," but no mention is made of the lilac, brown, and black spots 

 and streakings which render this egg one of the most beautiful we have 

 in Ontario. 



* Canad. Nat., V, i860, pp. 387-396; VI, 1861, pp. 6-i8, 129-138. 

 t Proc. (Comm.) Essex Inst., V, 1866, pp. 79-96. 



