(58 Recent Literature. I . u u 



fact that thev are to be especially sought for, these birds should be 

 included in a separate list with an appropriate heading, as is customary 

 in standard t'aunal papers. The author, however, commits the serious 

 error of placing these birds in the body of his paper without even typo- 

 graphically distinguishing them from those that properly belong there. 

 Examination shows that of the some 330 species given, about 42 are 

 included as of probable occurrence. Gnis mexicana, Scolopax rusticola, 

 Pavoncella pugnax, and Milvulus forficatus have, it is true, been recorded 

 from adjoining regions, where, however, they were too evidently acci- 

 dental to deserve admission here. 



The list itself adequately reflects our present limited knowledge of 

 Maryland birds, the author having apparently made excellent use of the 

 material at his command. It is attractively printed and we trust may 

 prove an incentive to ornithological research in the region of which it 

 treats.— F. M. C. 



The Structure and Life of Birds. 1 — This work takes a place on an 

 almost vacant shelf in the ornithological bookcase. Its purpose is best 

 stated bv the author, who in his preface remarks: "The aim of this book 

 is an ambitious one. It attempts to give good evidence of the develop- 

 ment of birds from reptilian ancestors, to show what modifications in 

 their anatomy have accompanied their advance to a more vigorous life, 

 and, after explaining as far as possible, their physiology, to make clear 

 the main principles of their noble accomplishment, flight, the visible 

 proof and expression of their high vitality. After this it deals, princi- 

 pally, with the subjects of color and song, instinct and reason, migra- 

 tion, and the principles of classification, and lastly, gives some hints as to 

 the best methods of studying birds." The specialist reading this syllabus 

 will probably doubt the author's ability to adequately treat of so many 

 and such varied themes within the limits of 400 pages, and while it is 

 true, that some subjects suffer at the expense of others, the book contains 

 a vast amount of exceedingly suggestive and valuable information. 

 Furthermore, at the conclusion of each chapter, a list of works is given 

 for the assistance of those who would pursue the subject more fully. 



In the accepted meaning of the word we should imagine that the 

 author of this well conceived book could not be called an ornithologist. 

 Rather he seems to approach his task from the standpoint of the anato- 

 mist or physicist, and here he is apparently at home. His chapters on 

 'The Skeleton of Bird and Reptile' (pp. 6-28), the evolution of birds 

 from reptiles (pp. 29-59), 'Form and Function' (pp. 60-172), and 

 'Flight' (pp. 173-274) are important contributions to structural and 

 functional ornithology. 



1 The Structure | and | Life of Birds | By | F. W. Headley, M. A., F. Z. S. | 

 Assistant Master at Haileybury College | With seventy-eight Illustrations | 

 London | Macmillan and Co. | and New York | 1895 | The Right of Transla- 

 tion and Reproduction is Reserved. | Sm. 8vo, pp. xx-f-412. 



