1S90.] Recent Literature. I C)7 



ing notes of travel and sport, largely ornithological. Over 1000 specimens 

 were taken, representing about 125 species of birds and 15 species of 

 mammals. 



About 50 pages are devoted to 'Ornithological Sketches from Spain,' 

 and relate mainly to Vultures and Eagles, of which eight or nine species 

 are more or less formally treated. 'Ornithological Sketches from the 

 East' seems to be a systematic, annotated list of the birds observed during 

 the 'Journey in the East' mentioned above. 



The numerous minor papers give notes on birds observed in the vicinity 

 of Vienna, during January 1 to June 1, 1882, November, 1883, February, 

 1SS4, and December, 1885, and include two papers on 'Hybrid Grouse,' 

 and an annotated list of birds observed on the coast of Dalmatia and 

 [stria. An excellent index concludes this very entertaining book ot 

 nearly 650 pages. — J. A. A. 



Doan's Birds of West Virginia.* — The writer of this list spent the time 

 from August 1 until November, 18S8, travelling through the State stopping 

 for a few days each at some fifteen different places. He says : — "During 

 the last five weeks in the field the inclemency of the weather was such that 

 it was impossible for me to do any collecting whatever ; and as the season 

 was far advanced and the remaining time short, my explorations were 

 necessarily hurried. Much valuable time was lost in travelling in order 

 to reach all the different districts, many of which are widely separated and 

 remote from railroads. By far the most productive and satisfactory work 

 was done at Buckhannon and vicinity during the month of August. The 

 following list [of 200 species] contains all species that I personally identi- 

 fied, together with a few additions from Mr. William Brewster's paper on 

 the 'Birds of Ritchie County,' and W. E. D. Scott's 'Birds of Kanawha 

 County.'" He also acknowledges his "indebtedness to Dr. J. R. Mathers 

 and Mrs. E. L. Dav, of Buckhannon, for valuable notes on several species 

 with which I did not meet." In spite of the fact that his field work was 

 all done later than August 1, the author does not hesitate to enter many 

 species as summer residents, and in the same bold spirit he gives others 

 as winter residents, either at a guess, or upon some authority which he 

 does not quote. Among all these unreliable statements are one or two 

 records that would be valuable, if we dared believe them. There are 

 others that are quite easy to believe, as the assertion that the Woodcock is 

 "a lover of low damp places," or that "Turkey Buzzards feed upon carrion 

 and are very useful birds." 



Cynical readers may be amused to notice that, according to the author's 

 observations, "in eastern Pennsylvania" various of the insect-eating spe- 

 cies still adhere with surprising fidelity to the diet prescribed for them 

 some years ago by Mr. T. G. Gentry. 



* Bulletin No. 3, | of the | West Virginia | Agricultural Experiment Station | at | 

 Morgantown, W. Va., | December, 1888, | — | Prepared under the Auspices of the 

 West Virginia Agri- | cultural Experiment Station. | By Wm. D. Doan. | — | John A. 

 Myers, Director. | Birds of West Virginia. 8vo pp. 41-88. 



