Becent Literature. 113 



with some general observations suggested by the writer's experience. It 

 is a very good piece of work, based in greatest part on original personal 

 observations, very carefully elaborated, with attention not only to the ma- 

 terial facts presented, but to those niceties of workmanship which are too 

 often neglected. There are a few slips, in spite of the author's evident 

 pains, such as adon for aedon, and Vireosylvia gilvus for giloa. The chief 

 fault we have to find with the List is that it is repaged in the separate 

 pamphlet issues. This troublesome, unnecessary, and inexcusable practice 

 should stop ; it is a relic of barbarism, an anachronism which has obvious 

 disadvantages without any counterbalancing recommendation. We are 

 glad to see, especially among our younger writers on ornithology, evidence 

 of increased attention to details of execution. Those who are satisfied to 

 say what they have to say, without regard to how they say it, may be re- 

 minded that the form as well as the substance of their communications to 

 the public is essential to successful authorship ; and that an article may be 

 made a contribution to letters as well as to science. It is even worth while 

 to spell correctly. — E. C. 



A Woman's Work as a Naturalist.* — Among the many wonder- 

 ful "exhibits" at the recent Centennial Exposition in Philadelj^hia, 

 few things attracted such general attention, or created more surprise, 

 among visitors of every grade of intelligence, than Mrs. M. A. Maxwell's 

 collection of the animals of Colorado. This collection formed a part of 

 her " Museum " at Boulder, Colorado, from which it was selected, under a 

 commission from the State authorities, to represent the Fauna of the moun- 

 tains and plains of that enterprising State. This selection embraced over 

 one hundred mammals and nearly four hundred birds, most ingeniously 

 and effectively arranged in artistic groups on a miniature landscape. The 

 objects represented ranged in size from Humming-Birds to the largest 

 mammals of the Colorado mountains and plains, — the gigantic elk and 

 bison, — and were all mounted in the highest style of the taxidermist's 

 ai't. This exhibit was not only unique and effective in execution and 

 arrangement, but was a startling revelation of what a woman can do ,in 

 one of the most difficult fields of art, for not only were all these objects 

 prepared by Mrs. Maxwell, but all Avere procured by her, a large part of 

 them having been taken by her own hands. But Mrs. Maxwell is some- 

 thing more than a successful and enthusiastic taxidermist ; she is an ardent 

 and thorough student of nature, and her explorations of the zoology of 

 Colorado have revealed the existence of many species in that State not 

 previously known to occur thei-e, and contributed many new facts regard- 

 ing the habits and distribution of othe'rs. The little book before us, de- 

 voted mainly to a very intelligent and pleasantly written account of how 



* On the Plains and among the Peaks ; or, How Mrs. Maxwell made her 

 Natural History Collection. By Mary Dartt. Philadelphia : Claxton, Reiiiseu, 

 and Hoffelfinger, 624, 626, 628 Market Street, 1879. 8vo. pp. 237. 



VOL. IV. 8 



