24-4- Recent Literature. I Tulv 



This volume shows no diminution of the enthusiasm so characteristic 

 of the previous works of this author and, giving evidence of increased 

 descriptive powers, possesses an interest which must appeal not alone to 

 the ornithologist but also to those who cannot claim even a passing 

 acquaintance with birds. 



Indeed the reviewer can instance the case of a reader who, though 

 unable to recognize three species of birds in the field, on chancing to pick 

 up this little volume, was so fascinated that he eagerly read to the end. 



As accurate records of painstaking, conscientious work, Mrs. Miller's 

 observations have permanent scientific worth, but it is as a voice teaching 

 the beauties of bird-life that her words have their chief value. She does 

 not tell us what she has read or heard of, but what she has seen, and she 

 does this so attractively that it will be strange indeed if among her readers 

 there be not some who will be induced to go afield and find for themselves 

 that nature is one great inexhaustible volume whose charms no writer can 

 adequately portray. 



That Mrs. Miller appreciates the necessity of accuracy is evident, and 

 we regret to see, therefore, that her careful work should be marred by 

 obvious errors in identification. Thus the Towhee found breeding at 

 Colorado Springs was probably Pipilo maculatus megalonyx, not P. 

 e.rythrophthalmus ,' the Horned Lark seen there in June was doubtless 

 Otocoris alpestris arenicola, not the more boreal O/oeoris alpestris luco- 

 Icsma, while the Hummingbird recorded from the same locality as Tro- 

 cltilascolubris may have been Selasphorus flatycercus. Again, the Crackle 

 of Ohio is the Bronzed, not the Purple, variety. — F. M. C. 



The Birds of Kentucky. 1 — -Tins is an unfortunate addition to the number 

 of faunal lists by compilers who have a very limited knowledge of birds 

 and less of the literature of ornithology. The author states that it is based 

 on observations and collections made in various parts of the State "since 

 July, 18S9," and adds that "the original list, as thus prepared, has been 

 extended by including species observed by Audubon [and] by Beckham in 

 Spencer {lege Nelson] County." It appears that about one-half of the 

 253 species given have been included on the authority of these ornitholo- 

 gists. 



The author ignores trinomials and thus commits the error of giving 

 such European species as Ccrthia familiaris, Loxia curvirostra, Corvus 

 corax, etc., a place in the Kentucky fauna, while Tardus, aonalaschkce, T. 

 ust ulatus, Peuaca aestivalis and others are introduced in the same way. 

 " Sylvania (?) microcephala Ridgway" and Dcndneca carbonata Audubon 

 are evidently admitted as species which may have claims to recognition, 

 and Aphclocoma ftoridana is given on the basis of its having "said to 

 have been taken in Kentucky." 



1 A Preliminary List of the Vertebrate Animals of Kentucky. By II. Garraan, Lex- 

 ington, Ky. Bull. Essex Inst., XXVI, 1894, pp. 1-63. Birds, pp. 7-33. 



