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RcceJit Literature. 



school, however, Dr. Cones is perhaps among the more conservative 

 members. 



Having fulfilled our duty of critic bv finding all possible fault with the 

 "Coues Check List" we turn to the much pleasanter task of mentioning 

 some of its many good qualities. Of its several departments the intro- 

 ductory chapters may be characterised as terse, practical, and to the point; 

 the Check List proper as carefully and in the main wisely framed ; the 

 "dictionary" as an exhaustive treatise of high scholarly excellence and 

 of unquestionable utility. Concerning the whole work we can say nothing 

 stronger than that it is in every way worthy of its brilliant and distin- 

 guished author, who has evidently made it one of his most mature and 

 carefully studied efforts. Its favorable reception can be a matter of no 

 uncertainty, for it fills a field of usefulness peculiarly its own, and one 

 which need in no way conflict with that so ably covered by Mr. Ridgway's 

 recent "Nomenclature."* — W. B. 



Gentry's Nests and Eggs of Birds of the United States.! — It is 

 now several months since the appearance of the twenty-fifth part, the final 

 number of this work, which was published by subscription. The text 

 is written by Mr. Gentry himself, while the plates were executed by Mr. 

 Edwin Sheppard, "subject to the suggestions and dictations of the author." 

 The title is misleading, for instead of treating of all the species found in 

 the United States, it deals with but fifty — less than one-fifth the number 

 known to occur within this area. 



The typography and press work are good, but the plates fall far short of 

 deserving the same praise. In the early numbers the nests and eggs 

 were generally figured alone, but the author soon acceded to the popular 

 demand and furnished colored representations of the birds on all plates 

 commencing with the seventh part; with the final number appeared 

 four extra plates, on which were shown the birds that were omitted in the 

 first six parts. 



* While it is unfortunate that there should be two check lists of North American 

 birds, Dr. Coues's right to publish his views in this form was undeniably established 

 when his first list was issued and accepted. Moreover, we see no reason why others 

 should be debarred from the same privilege, and we fancy that a third list, representing 

 a different and more conservative school of thought, especially in the matter of no- 

 menclature, would have a large following. As regards a choice of names, in the 

 comparatively few cases where the present authorities differ we should weigh well 

 before accepting either. Many persons, doubtless, have neither the time nor the 

 inclination to do this, and such, necessarily, must be guided by individual preferences 

 in favor of one or the other author. In all cases of publication, however, a simple 

 statement of the authority followed will be sufficient to prevent any confusion or mis- 

 understanding. 



t Illustrations of Nests and Eggs of Birds of the United States, with Text, by Thos. 

 G. Gentry. Philadelphia: J. A. Wagenseller, Publisher, No. 23 North Sixth Street 

 Copyright by J. A. Wagenseller, 1881. [4to, parts 1-25, pp. 1-300. 54 col. chromo- 

 lithographs, and chromo-portrait frontispiece of the author. Price, S25.00. 1880-82.] 



