82 Recent Literature. 



through its late appearance, due to circumstances wholly heyond the con- 

 trol of its author. Based on field-work extending from about June 1, 

 1867, to the middle of August, 1869, and restricted to a comparatively 

 limited field, not previously to any great extent explored, we have just 

 what all the circumstances of the case would seem to warrant one in ex- 

 pecting, a thorough and exhaustive account of the ornithology of an in- 

 teresting belt of country. The observations were mainly limited to that 

 portion of the Great Basin included between the thirty-ninth and forty- 

 second parallels, and extending from the Sierra Nevadas to the Wahsatch 

 Mountains. First is given an account of the route of the survey, with a 

 list of the camps. Then follows a short account of the physical features 

 of the region, with a discussion of its " local avifaunae," especial reference 

 being had to the station of the diff'erent species represented. The term 

 " avifauna " is hence here used in a rather unusual sense, reierring rather 

 to the habits of the species than to geographical areas. Thus we have 

 (I) an " Arboreal Avifauna," subdivided into five categories of species, in 

 relation to whether they frequent (1) the upper coniferous forests, (2) the 

 cedar or nut-pine groves, (3) the aspen groves or copses, (4) the caiion 

 shrubbery, and (5) the wooded river-valleys ; (II) a " Terrestrial Avi- 

 fauna," consisting pf (1) birds of the sagebrush, (2) birds of the mountain 

 meadows or peaks, and (3) birds of the lowland meadows ; (III) a " Mural 

 Avifauna," embracing (1) species strictly saxicoline, (2) species saxicoline 

 only in nesting habits, and (3) species nesting in earth-banks ; and, (IV) 

 an " Aquatic Avifauna," consisting of aquatic species. These divisions are 

 of course serviceable in indicating the station and habits of the different 

 species, but do not, of course, strictly characterize faunal areas, in their 

 usual geographical signification. " Descriptions of the localities where 

 collections or observations were made," numbering forty-three, then fol- 

 low, including lists of the species observed at each of these, where much 

 time was spent. " General remarks on the Avifauna of the Great Basin," 

 with an analysis of the species in reference to their geographical range, 

 conclude the introductory portion of the Eeport, which forms, altogether, 

 nearly ninety pages of exceedingly interesting matter. The " Report 



Geologist in charge. Vol. IV, Part III, Ornithology. By Robert Ridgway. 

 4to. pp. 303-670. 1877. 



[As an important bibliological matter to be remembered, it should be stated 

 that current literature for a few years has contained repeated anticipatory cita- 

 tions of such a work as being then "in press," — these citations sometimes in- 

 volving (juestions of precedence ; but the work, which was stereotyped in 1870, 

 was entirely remodelled, and never apj)eared in its original form. The stereotype 

 plates were melted in 1876, and no perfect copy of the original report exists 

 though a single mutilated set of proofs is, or was, in possession of Dr. Cones, 

 The matter was reset in 1876 or 1877, and the entire remodelling of the subject 

 renders previous citations of the original suppressed report frequently inapplica- 

 ble. — E. C] 



