vi Preface 



2. BAIRD, BREWER, AND RIDGEWAY. History 

 of North American Birds. This is a large work in 

 three royal octavo volumes, and is fully illustrated. 

 It is probably the most complete and reliable orni- 

 thology which we have. Published by Little, Brown, 

 & Co., Boston. 



3. CHENEY. Wood Notes Wild. A book which 

 aims to reduce to musical notation the songs of 

 some of our common birds, the violin, it is said, 

 having been the instrument employed. This work, 

 although not altogether satisfactory, is the only 

 sustained attempt of the sort which has been made, 

 and deserves attention as opening up a new line of 

 study. Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston. 



4. COUES. Birds of the Colorado Valley. The 

 interest of this book is chiefly its charmingly 

 written bird biographies. It does not confine 

 itself to the Colorado Valley birds, but describes 

 more or less fully all or almost all the birds of the 

 United States. The accounts are of very unequal 

 length, the less familiar birds being naturally de- 

 scribed more fully. It contains a valuable bibli- 

 ography, which is brought down to the date of 

 publication, 1878. Published by the Government, 

 U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey of the Territories, 

 Miscellaneous Publications, Number n. 



