18S4.] Recent Literature. 283 



illustrating their application." The section (pp. 65-Si) devoted to 'Princi- 

 ples and Practice of Classification,' unfolds in a fainiliar way what classi- 

 fication is and its purposes, treating the subject from the modern stand- 

 point of evolution, giving to beginners an easily comprehensible view 

 of the details and general principles that underlie systematic classification. 

 The section on the 'External Parts of Birds' (pp. 81-133) i^ "o* only 

 rewritten, but greatly amplified. 



The 'Introduction to the Anatomy of Birds' (pp. 133-227, — entirely 

 new — is too brief to set forth the matter at due length; it is addressed to 

 beginners, and treats the subject of anatomy mainly from the standpoint 

 of systematic ornithology. More special attention is therefore given to 

 the skeleton, but the prominent features of the muscular, vascular, respir- 

 atory, digestive, urogenital, and nervous systems, and the special sense 

 organs, are noticed at some length, some sixty pages being devoted to 

 the structure of the soft parts, against about forty to the bones. 



The nomenclature adopted in the 'General Synopsis' is strictly that of 

 the second edition of the 'Coues Check List,' published in 1882. The 

 authorities for the names adopted are, however, omitted, as are all biblio- 

 graphical references. While space is thus saved for other matter, we are 

 not sure the omission, viewed from the side of convenience, was wise. 

 About a dozen more species and subspecies are included than are in the 

 'Check List' — mostly described since its publication — but their insertion 

 is not allowed to disturb the numeration adopted in the 'Check List,' 

 although some of the genera even are transposed. Two subspecies are 

 here described for the first time, viz., 49a, Parus hiidsonicus evura,ixovci 

 'Alaska,' and 262a, Ju7ico hiemalis co7i7iectens, ixoxn the 'Mts. of Colo- 

 rado.' 



A noteworthy feature of the work is the sketch of the history of North 

 American ornithology (given in the 'Historical Preface,' pp. xi-xxvi), from 

 its earliest beginnings down to about the year 1S60. The history is hap- 

 pily divided into 'epochs' and 'periods,' and the work and impress of each 

 prominent author who has written especially of North American birds is 

 briefly adverted to and judicially weighed. The method of treatment 

 admits of each author's share in the development of the science being 

 thrown into sharp relief, the subject being handled with the author's usual 

 felicity of expression. 



The work as a whole represents a vast amount of labor, faithfully and 

 carefully performed. The illustrations are for the most part excellent ; 

 the typography (the work is printed at the Cambridge 'University 

 Press') is beyond praise ; the general design and execution are taste- 

 ful to a high degree. If we were inclined to quarrel with the author it 

 would be on minor points, and especially with his remarks about 'mum- 

 mification' (p. 47), 'benzine,' 'tobacco leaves,' and baking bird skins (p. 57), 

 all of which we have tried and seen tried to our utter disgust. These 

 points we hope to refer to at greater length on some future occasion. — 

 J. A. A. 



