Recent Literature. 177 



" An undertaking of this sort is beset with formidable difficulties ; not 

 only is its extent enormous, and the works relating to the subject are 

 widely scattered throujih many libraries, public and private ; but the 

 (jual fications of a good bibliographer are not easily to be found luiited in 

 one person. His application and industry must be untiring, and he must 

 be thoroughly conversant with the art of Bibliography. In addiiion to 

 these requirements, in a case like the present, an equally thorough knowl- 

 edge of the subject under consideration is indispensable. You happily 

 combine all these qualifications ; your industry has long been approved, 

 }our knowledge of books is evident from what you have now put before 

 us, your knowledge of Ornithology has long been known to us. We can 

 well believe that the libraries of your own country are better stored than 

 any others with works relating to the Ornithology of North America, and 

 that tlierefore the ' List of Faunal Publications relating to North American 

 Ornithology ' could be nowhere better prepared than in Washington ; but 

 when the ornithological literature of the whole world has to be examined, 

 it seems to us almost indispensable that the older libraries of Europe, and 

 especially of England, France, Italy, Germany and Holland, shouM be 

 consulted, if one of the chief merits of your work is to be maintained, viz : 

 — the consultation at first hand by yourself of every work mentioned 

 tlieriin. 



'■ This brings us to one of the chief objects of this memorial, which is to 

 e.\.press our sincere hope that time and means will be found you to prose- 

 cute in Europe the great undertaking you have commenced so well, and 

 bring it to a successful conclusion. Should the authorities who preside 

 over the De{)artnient to which you belong — and especially the Surgeon- 

 General of the United States Army — who have hitherto so liberally 

 granted you facilities for the scientific work you have perfornied, be dis- 

 posed to furnish you with these means of perfecting your undertaking, we 

 are convinced that it will reflect great credit to them and the country to 

 which you belong. AVe on our part, so far as England is concerned, are 

 ready not only to welcoiue a brother Ornithologist, but also to render you 

 every assistance in our power. 



"[Signed.] W. H. Fr.owKU, F U.S., ^c. President of (he Zoolor/i- 

 cal Society nf London. 



T. H. HuxLKY, Sec. R. S. 



Chaules Darwin, F.H.S. 



St. Geo. IMivaut, F.R.S., Sec. L. S. 



Alfkkd R. Wallace. 



A. Guk.nthkr, F.B.S., Keeper of the Depnrlm"nt of 

 Zoolo(/i/, Britixh Muse'im. 



Philip Lutlky Sclater, M.A., Ph. Dr., F.P.S., Sec- 

 retary to the Zoological Society of London. 



Alfi:kd Newton, i^.i?. 5., V.P.Z.S., Professor of Zo- 

 ology in the University of Cambridge. 

 vol. IV. 12 



