Vol. xxn D . T : 



1Q04 J Kecent l^tterature. "^Q^ 



powers which thej do not possess, and in some instances to 'observe' 

 wonderful manifestations that take place chiefly in the imagination of 

 the beholder." To mammals are assigned 170 pages, to birds 140, to rep- 

 tiles 43, to amphibians, 12, to fishes 75. The information given is well 

 chosen and well apportioned, the more important or more interesting 

 groups being selected for fuller treatment in comparison with those of 

 less popular interest. The nomenclature, particularly of the mammals, 

 is well up to date, for which the author acknowledges his indebtedness 

 to the influence and kind assistance of Dr. T. S. Palmer. In general only 

 a few prominent species are mentioned, as examples of their kin, but in 

 this way a large amount of very useful information is attractively pre- 

 sented. The illustrations are abundant, and for the most part excellent 

 for their purpose. The work has a characteristic personality, and an off- 

 hand and emphatic way of putting things that will prove atti-active to 

 many readers and less pleasing to others. There is a tendency to 

 sweeping declarations that a little more care or thoughtfulness on the 

 author's part would have rendered less open to criticism, as the 

 statement regarding the pouch for the young in marsupials, the reader 

 being left to infer that it is characteristic of all members of the order. 

 Neither are his confessions respecting his lack of knowledge of the vocal 

 powers of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Rose-breasted Grosbeak credit- 

 able to his powers of observation as an ornithologist ; and what shall we 

 say of the lapsus whereby he tells his readers that "The Order Machro- 

 chires means literally ' odd ones.' " 



But notwithstanding an occasional indiscretion Mr. Hornaday's ' The 

 American Natural History' is a valuable and helpful book that well fills 

 a hitherto serious gap in our popular natural history literature, treatino- 

 as it does, in a general and very helpful way, the vertebrates of North 

 America in the compass of a single volume. — J. A. A. 



The 'Baby Pathfinder to the Birds.'— "This little guide 1 has been 

 prepared primarily," the authors state, "for New England, but should be 

 of service in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania." It is restricted to 

 land birds, and mostly to the Passeres, and gives in a few lines the "gen- 

 eral appearance of adult birds as seen in the field," and a few words about 

 the song, nest, and breeding range of each of the no species treated. Its 

 small size renders it a convenient booklet for the pocket, and it should 

 prove a convenient and helpful vade mecum for the student when afield, 

 -J. A. A. 



1 Baby Pathfinder to the Birds | Illustrated | A Pocket Guide to One Hun- 

 dred and Ten Land Birds of New England | with blank pages for Notes | By 

 Harriet E. Richards and Emma G. Cummings | Members of American Orni- 

 thologists' Union | — | W. A. Butterfield, Publisher, 59 Bromfield St., Boston, 

 Mass. I 1904 — 125 leaves, printed on one side; type-bed \\ X 34 in. 



