228 Recent Literature. [April 



and the twelve half-tone plates include characteristic nests of eight species, 

 and 122 figures of eggs. The plan and aim of the work and the manner of 

 its preparation are explained in the 'introduction' (pp. 1-6), where also 

 acknowledgments are made to the thirty-six co-workers who have con- 

 tributed much valuable and hitherto unpublished material. There is a 

 Chapter on ' Migration ' (pp. 14-20) by W. W. Cooke, who has also furnished 

 the very extensive migration tables which form an important feature of 

 the book, and also most of the paragraphs on distribution; the chapter 

 on 'The Food of Warblers' (pp. 23-32) is by E. H. Forbush. 



The generalities of the subject occupy some thirty pages (pp. 7-36), 

 and treat, under special subheadings, the general characters, plumage, 

 distribution, migration, songs, nesting habits, food, and the mortality 

 of Warblers. The family Mniotiltidse is stated to contain approximately 

 155 species, distributed in summer from Argentina to Labrador and north- 

 ern Alaska, and in winter restricted mainly to the region south of the 

 southern border of the United States. The distribution and probable 

 origin of each genus is considered in detail, the results of the analysis 

 giving prominence to many facts of special interest. Under 'Mortality 

 among Warblers ' the death-rate is shown to be relatively high, due mainly 

 to unfavorable conditions encountered during their long migrations; 

 some species, as the Blackpoll Warbler, rarely breeding south of Canada 

 or wintering north of northern South America. The shortest journey 

 of this species, according to Mr. Cooke, is 3,500 miles, "while those that 

 nest in Alaska have 7,000 miles to travel to their probable winter home in 

 Brazil." 



The 55 species and 19 subspecies found north of Mexico are treated in 

 systematic sequence, after the following method: (1) the A. O. U. Check- 

 List English and technical names; (2) distinguishing characters of male, 

 female, and young, both in spring and fall (briefly but discriminatingly 

 presented, and printed in small type); (3) general distribution; (4) sum- 

 mer range; (5) winter range; (6) spring migration; (7) fall migration 

 (with migration tables under each) ; (8) the bird and its haunts; (9) song; 

 (10) nesting site; (11) nest; (12) eggs; (13) nesting dates; (14) biblio- 

 graphical references (as cited in the text). The work is thus so detailed 

 and so methodically arranged that any desired topic is readily found. 

 The bibliographical references relate mainly to special articles treating 

 of the habits of the species in question, mostly of recent date, in scientific 

 journals and magazines; the quotations are in the exact words of the 

 author, and are not paraphrases; and specially contributed matter is duly 

 indicated and accredited. The author has been able to draw largely from 

 his own personal knowledge, and little is omitted that could be useful to 

 the reader. Although non-technical, the matter is scientifically all that 

 could be demanded, and is thus not only adapted to the amateur, but is a 

 source of information for the expert. In view of the 124 colored figures, 

 analytical keys are deemed unnecessary. The colored plates have already, 

 been published in 'Bird Lore,' where most of the migration matter also 

 originally appeared, but otherwise the work is wholly new. 



