'Spi'] Recent T^iterature. 



105 



The author wisely follows "Ridgway's 'Manual of North American 

 Birds' .... in the nomenclature of the families and smaller groups,' 

 but adopts an original system of classification. The "Scansores" head 

 the list, which then follows the 'Manual' to Sialia; this genus is succeeded 

 by the Raptores and the 'Manual' is again followed with the families in 

 inverse order ; the Podicipida^and Alcida-, however, are transposed and tlic 

 Catalogue concludes with Allc. Trimomials are preceded by the abbre- 

 viation 'var.' or are hyphenized with tlie specific name, while brief descrip- 

 tions, based largely on Ridgway's diagnoses, are given of each species and 

 subspecies. In quotation from Dr. Abbott's list Passerrlla iliaca, Sci/nus 

 noveboiacettsis, Troglodytes hicmalis, Regulus satrapa, R. calendula, 

 etc., are given as summer residents, while apparently on his own author- 

 ity the author gives numerous records which, if they can be substantiated, 

 will add considerably to our knowledge of the birds they refer to. Canto- 

 pus boreal is is cited as "A northern form ranging as far south as New 

 York, and should be looked for in our northern Counties," where also 

 "hunters" are warned to look out for additional specimens of Acani//is 

 brexvsteri. Dendroica /?'/r/'/««rt'/ is included as "Rare. Seen during the 

 migrations." 



Beyond an evident eftbrt at intelligent work, the reviewer discovers 

 nothing to commend, but the effort falls so far short of success and ex- 

 poses such lamentable ignorance of the subject and lack of original inves- 

 tigation, that the result can only be regarded as a compilation made 

 under most unfortunate circumstances and unworthy of extended criti- 

 cism— F. M. C. 



Rives's 'Catalogue of the Birds of the Virginias. '* — This catalogue of 

 the birds of Virginia and West Virginia is so admirably proportioned, 

 and so carefully worked out in its details, that it might well serve as a 

 model for works of its kind. The paper begins with a review of the early 

 accounts of Virginia birds, a dozen pages being filled with extremely in- 

 teresting extracts from the writings of various travellers and colonists, 

 from William Strachey in 1610 to Andrew Burnaby in 1775. Following 

 this is a bibliographical list of the more important papers upon the re- 

 gion, that have appeared in recent years (1S62-1889). Then comes an 

 introductory chapter of fifteen pages discussing the topography, climate, 

 flora and fauna, accompanied by a colored map showing, theoretically at 

 least, the distribution of the usually recognized faunas occurring within 

 the area. This is followed by the catalogue proper, in which 304 species 

 and subspecies are treated, half a dozen lines or more being given to each. 

 These accounts are based upon considerable "personal observation in dif- 



*Proceedings ] of | The Newport | Natural History Society, | [Seal] | 1889-90. | 



I Document VII. | | A Catalogue of the Birds of the Virginias, | by Wm.C. Rives 



M. A., M. D. I — — I Newport, R. I.; | printed for the Society by T. T. I^itman, | 

 October, 1890. 8vo., pp. 100, with map. 



