"iggg I Recent Literature. 1^7 



I and II and the first half of Volume III being given to Mammals. The 

 work is issued in fortnightly parts, consisting of about ioo pages of text, 

 two colored plates, and numerous text figures. The birds begin with 

 No. 16 (No. 4 of Vol. Ill), of which Nos. 16 (Dec. 15, 1S95) to 20 (Feb. 

 15, 1896) are now before us for notice. The bird matter thus far includes 

 pp. 289-576 of Vol. III. and pp. 1-192 of Vol. IV, and beginning with the 

 Passeres, extends to about half way through the Diurnal Birds of Prev, 

 and is divided into twelve chapters. Chapters II to VI (Vol. Ill, pp. 

 305-544), which include the order Passeres, are by II. A. Macpherson, 

 with some assistance from the editor, Mr. Lvdekker, in Chapter II (see 

 footnote to p. 374). Chapters VII to IX (Vol. Ill, pp. 545-576, and Vol. 

 IV, pp. 1-90), embracing ' The Picarians,' are bv R. Bowdler Sharpe. 

 The authorship of Chapter I, 'General Characteristics, — Class Aves ' 

 (Vol. Ill, pp. 289-304), Chapter X, ' The Parrot Tribe, — Order Psittaci ' 

 (Vol. IV, pp. 91-139), Chapter XI, -The Owls and Ospreys, — Orders 

 Striges and Pandiones ' (Vol. IV, pp. 140-173), and Chapter XII, 'The 

 Diurnal Birds of Prey, or Accipitrines,— Order Accipitres ' (Vol. IV, pp. 

 171-192, et. seq.) is thus far not indicated. As is easily noticeable, the 

 style of treatment varies in the different parts of the work, as regards 

 symmetry, accuracy, and familiarity of the author with his subject. 



The work is to be considered of course from the standpoint of a gen- 

 eral popular treatise on the class Aves, with the limitations as to space 

 necessarily entailed by such an undertaking. Hence a minimum of tech 

 nicalities is to be expected, with perhaps a very unequal allotment of 

 space in proportion to the numerical size of the groups treated. Yet, 

 considering the high scientific standing of the editor, we have reason to 

 expect at least accuracy, if not fullness and uniformity of treatment of 

 the groups that must be marshalled in review. Judged bv these standards 

 the work, as a whole, well stands the test, and in general merits the gen- 

 erous patronage of the public. Many of the groups are admirably treated 

 and indicate the work of a practiced hand, as especially the varied assort- 

 ment of family groups here arrayed under the general term of 'The Pica- 

 rians.' The same is true, in large measure, for the Parrots and the Birds 

 of Prey. 



The great group of Passeres presents greater difficulties, owing to their 

 diversity and numerical abundance, in comparison to the other orders of 

 the class, so that the question of what groups to mention and what to 

 pass unnoticed with so limited a space for their treatment, is obviouslv 

 one of great embarrassment, and the selection would here severelv tax 

 the skill of the expert. Vet it is easy to perceive that the author often 

 finds himself in unaccustomed fields. 



The introductory chapter is quite too brief for the satisfactorv treat- 

 ment of the generalities of the subject, but is fortunately supplemented to 

 a considerable extent by the introductory paragraphs to the orders in the 

 body of the work. Yet we think the general reader would have been 

 profited by a few additional paragraphs on feathers, — giving something 



