244 Recent Literature. \k%\ 



Newton's insistence upon tlie importance of taking a bird's wliole struc- 

 ture in consideration in the attempt to fix its position in a natural genetic 

 classification. Such insistence is well exemplified in the care Professor 

 Newton takes to place in their proper light Professor Furbringer's recent 

 remarkable contributions to systematic ornithology (pp. /oo-/oj), together 

 with those of Dr. Gadow — -neither of whom is so well known, in this 

 country, as each deserves to be. 



The remainder of the Introduction is devoted to what may be deemed 

 the present outlook for the taxonomy of the future. Those who did not 

 know Professor Newton's extreme caution and conservatism might per- 

 haps expect to find him propounding a system of his own; but such will 

 look in vain. We have carefully guarded statements on many points 

 which seem to have been established ; but beyond these Professor Newton 

 is unprepared to go. Audacity and even temerit_v have their uses, on 

 some occasions, but the construction of an Avian phylum is not among 

 the opportunities for a profitable display of such qualities — tempting and 

 alluring though the prospect may seem to some ardent minds. The 

 geological record remains to this day altogether too incomplete. No one 

 has yet flown to thejura except on the wings of the imagination ; and until 

 a safer mode of progression in that direction be opened, with a plentiful 

 supply of the still missing links for stepping-stones, the natural classifi- 

 cation of birds will remain a vision of Utopia. 



We should not close this tribute to the great work of a great ornitholo- 

 gist without recognition of those by whom he has been so ably aided in 

 its execution — in ornithotomy by Dr. Gadow, whose contributions are 

 conspicuous throughout the volume ; in palaeornithology by Mr. Lydekker ; 

 in other lines by Professor Roy ; certain other contributions we do not see 

 fit to name being fortunately too few and too insignificant to appreciably 

 detract from the standard of excellence elsewhere maintained throughout 

 the 'Dictionary.' — E. C- 



Bates's ' The Game Birds of North America.' ' — Mr. Bates's definition 

 of a game bird is the following: "A game bird is one which is suitable 

 for food and which is habitually pursued for sport, demanding skill and 

 dexterity for its capture. I take it for granted that every sportsman is a 

 gentleman, and would not slaughter more game than he could find a use 

 for, and that he would not descend to the level of the pot-hunter, who will 

 kill Robins and other insectivorous birds simply because they are fit to 

 eat." The book is intended as " a convenient reference list adapted to the 

 sportsman's needs without compelling him to wander among a mass of 

 useless matter." Judged by this standard the author has apparently pre- 

 pared a handy book for the intelligent sportsman, whereby he may in most 



'The Game Birds | of North America | A Descriptive Check-List | By | 

 Frank A. Bates | President " Boston Scientific Society," and formerly | 

 Associate Editor " Ornithologist and Oologist." | Illustrated | Boston | Bradlee 

 Whidden | 1896 — i6mo, pp. iiS. 



