V0l I 's XVI ] Recent Literature. 87 



little book — ' Observations of Nature and Human Nature '— is eminently 

 descriptive of the character of this new collection of charming essays, 

 devoted about equally to the birds, the flowers, and the people of that 

 portion of the Blue Ridge where the States of West Virginia and North 

 Carolina meet. While the reader is given delightful reminiscences of 

 the scenery and natural products of the region as seen by a lover of 

 nature in the closing month of spring, perhaps not less entertaining are 

 his 'observations of human nature' which so delightfully flavor the book 

 and break the tendency to monotony that a purely natural history rela- 

 tion bv any writer, however gifted, is apt to present. The six essays here 

 brought together are entitled 'A Day's Drive in Three States,' 'In Quest 

 of Ravens,' 'A Mountain Pond,' 'Birds, Flowers, and People,' 'A Nook 

 in the Alleghanies,' and 'At Natural Bridge.' The ' Quest for Ravens' 

 was not a great success so far as finding Ravens was concerned; the 

 anticipated " little store of 'first-hand knowledge'" was "a brace of inter- 

 rogation points." The Ravens evaded acquaintanceship, but the reader 

 of Mr. Torrey's book will not regret the length of this chapter that tells 

 of the Raven hunt. In this, as in the other chapters, 'anthropology and 

 ornithology,' and botany, are entertainingly blended. His successes 

 and his disappointments in the ornithological line are narrated with an 

 enthusiasm and a humor that appeals to the general reader as well as to 

 the bird lover. He records, in the course of the book, much that is of 

 permanent value from the standpoint of the naturalist, which an excellent 

 index renders readily available. — J. A. A. 



Mrs. Maynard's Birds of Washington. 1 — This little manual, prepared 

 at the suggestion of the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia, 

 is a credit to everyone concerned with its preparation. It gives untech- 

 nical descriptions of about 100 species of the birds most likely to be 

 seen in the vicinity of Washington, with something about the habits of 

 those that nest there, about a page being devoted to each species, many 

 of the species being illustrated. There are also brief descriptions of the 

 " migrants and winter residents," and a tabular 'List of All Birds found 

 in the District of Columbia,' the latter by Dr. C. W. Richmond, and so 

 arranged as to indicate the season of occurrence. Other supplementary 

 lists follow of ' birds that may be seen in winter,' ' birds that nest within 

 the city limits,' and lists of birds seen on certain days at particular points, 

 based on the observations of several of the best known Washington 

 ornithologists. The 'Introduction' (pp. n-16), by Miss Florence A. 

 Merriam, is filled with excellent advice as to how, where and when to 



1 Birds of Washington | and Vicinity | including parts of Maryland and 

 Virginia | By | Mrs. L. W. Maynard | with | Introduction by Florence A. 

 Merriam I ... . [= motto, 3 lines] | Washington, D. C. | 1898. — 8vo, 

 pp. 204, with numerous illustrations. 



