1 



302 Recent Literature. \^^^ 



author, and of the late John Gould, to the memory of whom and of his 

 assistant John Gilbert the work is appropriately dedicated. The intro- 

 duction contains an interesting account of the progress of Australian 

 ornithology, beginning with biographical sketches of Gould and Gilbert, 

 especially in relation to their Australian work, and including briefer 

 notices of other pioneer workers in the same field. 



The main text consists of, first, references to where the species is figured, 

 its place of treatment in the British Museum 'Catalogue of Birds,' 

 and to previous descriptions of its eggs. Then follows a brief statement 

 of its geographical distribution, and a formal description of the nest and 

 eggs, and finally, under ' Observations,' an account of its habits and 

 distribution. 



The avifauna of Australia presents an unusual number of birds of 

 remarkable interest in respect to their domestic life and breeding habits, 

 all of which are treated with the detail their peculiar interest warrants. 

 The playgrounds of the several species of Bower Bird, and the wonderful 

 nesting habits of the mound-building Megapodes are affectively illustrated 

 by full-page half-tone plates, while the accompanying text is extended to 

 meet the requirements of a detailed account of these remarkable "ornitho- 

 logical curiosities." 



A few of the nests and eggs of Australian birds still remain undis- 

 covered, but the proportion of the unknown is not large. Mr. Campbell's 

 grand work well covers the field, and is a credit alike to his industrv, 

 intelligence, and zeal. While the greater part of the half-tone illustrations 

 are from photographs taken by the author, many are credited to Mr. D. 

 Le Souef and a considerable number of others to Mr. S. W. Jackson. 

 The colored plates of eggs are from drawings by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, 

 and represent the eggs of about 200 species which lay colored eggs, no 

 white eggs being figured. — J. A. A. 



Woodcock's Birds of Oregon.' — Mr. Woodcock's List numbers about 

 325 species, this number including a few introduced species. It has evi- 

 dently been compiled with care, and forms a valuable record of the birds 

 of the State. The author's own observations relate chiefly to the vicinity 

 of Corvallis, and if his list had been confined to this locality we are not 

 sure it would not have been quite as valuable, as it would certainly have 

 been a more convenient and definite contribution to faunal literature. 

 In compiling a list to indnde all the birds of the State — the need for 

 which was doubtless felt to be urgent — the author has a\ailed himself of 



' An Annotated List of the Birds of Oregon. Compiled from data furnished 

 by ornithologists throughout the State, together with extracts from Belding's 

 "Land Birds of the Pacific District," and Bendire's "Life Histories of North 

 American Birds." By A. R. Woodcock. Bull. No. 68. Oregon Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, Corvallis, Oregon, Jan., 1902. 8vo, pp. 118. 



