200 Recent Literature. \ , Au .k 



LApnl 



in standard books or journals. [This is more nearly true of the later 

 volumes than of many of the earlier volumes.] This has been a work of 

 prodigious labour, but it is hoped that, being fairly exhaustive, it has 

 been done once for all, as far as existing literature is concerned. (2) A 

 full description of the external characters of both sexes, and, as far as 

 possible, all stages of plumage. (3) A general account of the habitat of 

 the species. (4) A list of every individual specimen in the Museum Col- 

 lection, with a statement as to the source from whence it was obtained 

 and its original locality." This high aim has been as nearly reached, at 

 least in many of the volumes, as, in the nature of such things, could be 

 reasonably expected. 



The colored illustrations in these twenty-seven volumes represent (in 

 387 plates) 540 species not before figured, or else only inadequately, the 

 drawings, by Keulemans, being made in almost every case "from the 

 types of the species." 



The Preface to Vol. XXVI further states that owing to the vast increase 

 in the collection during the last twenty-five years the earlier volumes 

 " represent a very inadequate idea, both of the present condition of the 

 subject and the contents of the Museum Collection." It is therefore pro- 

 posed to publish a Supplement, probably in two volumes, " which will 

 contain references to every species described subsequently to the publica- 

 tion of the volume which treats of the group to which it belongs, and 

 also such emendations as the progress of Zoology seems to require. 

 When this is published, it will afford a complete list up to date of all 

 known birds, either described in the Catalogue or elsewhere." 



We have thus given a sketch of the history, scope, and aims of this 

 great series of volumes, 1 in nearly the words of the Director of the 

 Zoological Department of the British Museum. As shown, the plan of 

 the work, and the general scheme of arrangement and classification, were 

 decided upon more than a quarter of a century ago, as doubtless also the 

 leading principles of nomenclature. Hence the twelfth edition of 



1 For notices in this journal of the volumes of the British Museum Catalogue 

 of Birds see, for Vols. I, II, and III, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, III, 1878, p. 77-79 ; 

 Vols. IV, V, and VI, ibid., VIII, 1883, pp. 99-105; Vols. VII and VIII, Auk 

 I, 18S4, pp. 277-2S3; Vol. IX (not reviewed); Vol. X, ibid., II, 1885, pp. 

 365-36S; Vol. XI, ibid., IV, 1887, pp. 149, 150; Vol. XII, ibid.V, 1S88, pp. 

 410-413; Vol. XIII, ibid., VI, 1S89, pp. 266-268 ; Vol. XIV, ibid., VIII, 1891, 

 pp. 90-92; Vol. XV, ibid., VII, 1890, pp. 379, 380; Vols. XVI and XVII, 

 ibid., X, 1893, pp. 66-69; Vol. XVIII, ibid., VIII, 1891, pp. 92-95 ; Vol. XIX, 

 ibid.,IX, 1892, p. 184; Vol. XX, ibid., IX, 1S92, pp. 277-279; Vol. XXI, 

 ibid., XI, 1S94, pp. 60-62; Vol. XXII, ibid., XI, 1894, pp. 171, 172; Vol. 

 XXIII, ibid., XI, 1S94, p. 242; Vol. XXIV, ibid., XIV, 1897, pp. 102-104; 

 Vol. XXV, ibid., XIII, 1896, pp. 160-162 ; Vol. XXVI, ibid., XVI, 1899, pp. 

 198-203; Vol. XXVII, ibid., XIII, 1896, pp. 162-164. 



