442 Recent Literature. [q"£ 



not; consequently hybrids between distinct genera (even when as closely 

 allied as Trochilus, Calypte, and Selasphorus) must necessarily be rare and 

 sporadic. 



Mr. Taylor's concluding observation that "Trochiline hybrids occur 

 only between species whose ranges overlap or adjoin " necessarily applies 

 with equal force to all hybrids, and therefore has no bearing on the case. — 

 Robert Ridgway, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Cory's 'The Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin.' 1 — In a portly volume 

 of 764 pages the Curator of Zoology of the Field Museum has given us an 

 illustrated manual of the Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin which for effective- 

 ness of treatment will doubtless long remain without a rival. As stated 

 by the author: "The present work includes, as far as known, all species 

 and subspecies of birds which occur in Illinois and Wisconsin, the total 

 number being 398, with descriptions of their various plumages, nests and 

 eggs, and geographical distribution, together with more or less brief bio- 

 graphical notes concerning them." It is further said: "The keys to fami- 

 lies and species are practically the same as those which first appeared in 

 the author's Birds of Eastern North America, revised to meet present 

 needs"; which means the omission of all species and higher groups not 

 found in the area under consideration, and such other modifications as 

 have been found necessary. 



The preface is a brief statement of the scope of the work, an explana- 

 tion of how to use the keys, and acknowledgments of indebtedness to the 

 works of previous authors. Then follows the table of contents, a glossary 

 of terms used in description (illustrated), an Introduction (pp. 13-22), 

 describing and profusely illustrating types of structure of the wing, tail, 

 leg and foot, and bill, and 'how to measure a bird.' Keys to the families 

 and species occupy pages 23-274, and the systematic treatment of the 

 species comprises pages 275-715. The work concludes with 'A Key to the 

 Eggs of the more common birds known to breed in Northern Illinois and 

 Southern Wisconsin' (pp. 716-739, with two half-tone plates of eggs), a 

 Bibliography (pp. 740-750), and an Index. 



In 1899, just ten years ago, appeared Mr. Cory's 'Key to the Birds of 

 Eastern North America,' published, like the present volume, by the Field 

 Museum. These Keys, as already stated, constitute the basis of the elabo- 



1 The Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin. By Charles B. Cory, Curator of Depart- 

 ment of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History. Publication 131. Zoological 

 Series, Vol. IX. Chicago, U. S. A., 1909. 8vo, pp. 1-764, numerous text figures 



