7« 



Recent Literature. [January 



Dr. Menzbier. As already stated (Auk, Vol. V, p. 447) , the work will com- 

 prise six large quarto volumes, with about eighty colored plates. Volume 

 I will consist of a biography of Sewertzow, a list of the birds of his collec- 

 tion, and a general summary of the fauna of Turkestan, the remaining 

 five volumes treating in detail of the birds in systematic order, beginning 

 with the Birds of Prey. 



The first livraison of Volume II contains the Vultures and Eagles, six- 

 teen species of which are treated, the text ranging from four to twelve pages 

 to each. 



A verv full citation of bibliographical references is followed by detailed 

 descriptions of the various phases of plumage each species presents, while 

 much space is given to the geographical distribution of each and to 

 biographical observations. — J. A. A. 



Nehrling's Bird Biographies.* — Final judgment upon this notable 

 undertaking must be deferred until the completion of the work. At 

 present, we can form a tolerably clear opinion of what it will be, if the 

 promise of the prospectus is fulfilled. The early parts, which came to 

 hand some months ago, fully sustain the publisher's announcement, and 

 we shall watch with interested attention the progress of an enterprise 

 which commends itself to all true lovers of bird-life. We see no reason 

 why Mr. Nehrling should not re-gather the lines which dropped from this 

 hand twelve years ago, and weave them into a useful, attractive and en- 

 during fabric. 



Mr. Nehrling's name is not a new one in ornithological literature, 

 though perhaps better known to the German than to the American public 

 as a writer on American birds. Many sketches and some more formal 

 bird biographies of his have already appeared in German periodicals, 

 showing him to be a careful and faithful observer, a competent author, 

 and above all a feeling writer, in full touch with the spirit of the beauti- 

 ful airy beings whose lives he portrays. The present writer has spent too 

 many years in the technicalities and formalities of ornithology to be mis- 

 understood as depreciating the value of such tough fibre in the develop- 

 ment of our science. Yet there is a 'height beyond,' which the orni- 

 thologist must reach before he can understand any bird, no matter how 

 intricate and consummate may be his knowledge of the partialities, pecu- 

 liarities and particularities of many birds. Wilson and Nuttall and Audu- 

 bon each reached that height; so did Michelet and Thoreau ; so have 

 John Burroughs, W. L. Shoemaker and Wilson Flagg; all told the story 

 from a keen ether, above the clouds of synonymy and diagnoses; while 

 Nehrling follows, at no appreciable interval. 



Only those who are in the secret will realize how high is the praise we 



*Morth American Birds. By H- Nehrling. 4to. Pub. in parts, paper, 40 to 48 pp. 

 text in each, with 3 pll. col'd. (Prospectus calling for 12 parts, 36 plates, to be com- 

 pleted in 1890.) Parts I, II, pp. 1-96, and six plates. Milwaukee: Geo. Brumder, 

 1888. Also published simultaneously in German, Die Nord-Atnerikanische Vogelwelt, 

 u. s. w., Verlag von Geo. Brumder. 



