i8oi.] Recent Literdtnre. 2 2^ 



the systematic natncs of biolosfj. " To the bioloujical sciences a degree 

 of protninciice has been given conesponding to the remarkable recent in- 

 crease in their vocabuhiry. During the hist quarter of a centuiv tiiere 

 has been an extensive reorganization and variation of ti>e former systems 

 of classification, from which have come thousands of new names of genera, 

 families, etc : and also a profound modification of biological conceptions, 

 whicli has led both to new definitions of old words and to the coinage of 

 many new words. All these terms that are English in form, and for anv 

 reason worthy of record, have been included, and also as many of the 

 New Latin names of classificatory groups as are essential to a serviceable 

 l^resentation of zoology and botany. The selection of the New Latin 

 names in zoology has been liberal as regards the higher groups, or families, 

 orders, etc., whether now current or merely forming a part of the historv 

 of the science; but of generic names only a relativelv small number have 

 been entered. Probably about ioo,ooo names of zoological genera exist, 

 60,000 at least having a definite scientific standing; but the whole of them 

 cannot, of course, be admitted into any dictionary. The general rule 

 adopted for the inclusion of such names is to admit those on which are 

 founded the names of higher groups, especially of families, or which are 

 important for some other special reason, or popular use, an established 

 position in works of reference, the existence of species which have pop- 

 ular English names, etc." 



The foregoing extracts from tiie preface indicate the scope and character 

 of treatment of the ornithological names and subjects, in common with 

 those of biology in general. The biological collaborators selected at once 

 inspire confidence in the work, a critical inspection of wtiich cannot fail 

 to excite admiration. 



We further learn from the preface that "The definitions of that part of 

 general biological science which in any way relates to animal life or struct- 

 ure, including systematic zoology, have been written by Dr. Elliott Coues, 

 who has been assisted in icthyolog}' and conchology by Prof. Theodore N. 

 Gill, in entomology by Mr. Leland O. Howard and Mr. Herbert L. Smith, 

 and in human anatomy by Prof. James K. Thatcher. Special aid has also 

 been leceived from other naturalists, particularly from Prof. Charles \ . 

 Riley, who has furnished a number of definitions accompanying a valu- 

 able series of entomological cuts obtained from him." The botanical col- 

 laborators are Dr. Sereno Watson and Mr. Arthur B. Seymour (from A 

 through G), and Dr. Lester F. Ward and Prof. Frank H. Knowlton (from 

 G to Z). The pictorial illustrations are generally of a high grade, and 

 are very largely made especially for the work. * 



Four volumes of 'The Century Dictionary' have alreadj' appeared, the 

 first three bearing date i8Sq, and the fourth 1890. The remaining two are 

 announced to appear shortly. They :ire large quarto in size (type bed 

 yiXioi inches), and average over 1200 pages each. The ornithological 



* Many of the illustrations of birds and mammals have been drawn by Mr. Ernest 

 E. Thompson, from specimens furnished by the American Museum of Natural History. 



