108 Recent Literature. Auk 
Jan. 
companionship. While Mrs. Miller and other well known writers have 
made us familiar with the domestic trials and housekeeping methods of 
many of our eastern birds, Miss Merriam here enters a new field, and tells 
us in a charming way of the nest-building and brood-rearing ways of a 
score or more of interesting types of western bird-life. The work is of 
course non-technical, as it should be, being a popular contribution to 
bird-lore, yet, abounds with interesting observations of permanent value. 
—J.A.A. 
‘Papers presented to the World’s Congress of Ornithology.’ '— From 
the ‘Publisher’s note,’ we learn that the few weeks intervening between 
the appointment of the Committee of the World’s Congress of Orni 
thology (see Auk, X, 1893, 386) and the session of the Congress, did not 
enable the Committee to do all it wished to secure the co-operation of 
ornithologists living at a distance from Chicago, ‘‘ but they had reason to 
be much gratified at the measure of success attained, as witnessed by the 
large and interested audiences which attended every session, and the many 
papers which were read in person or by proxy.” The Congress was held 
Oct. 18-21, 1893, the sessions occupying four days. 
This Congress differed from other World’s Congresses of Ornithology 
that have been held in that it was not, and was not intended to be, to any 
large extent a scientific congress ; the subject of Ornithology being ap- 
proached mainly from its economic, esthetic, and humanitarian sides. 
Indeed, the motto chosen to grace the titlepage —“ Birds must and shall 
be protected” —is the key-note to the volume. Of the 27 papers con- 
tained in the work, not one can be considered as technical; all are written 
in a popular vein, and nearly all, from the ‘ Presidenfial Address,’ by Dr. 
-Coues, to almost the last paper in the volume, approach the subject of 
birds from the side of the humanitarian. Many of the papers are charm- 
ingly written, and there is less repetition and less of the commonplace than 
the nature of the subject would naturally lead one to expect. The papers 
here gathered are well worthy of the permanency now secured for them, 
and of their attractive typographical setting. Their perusal should tend 
not only to stimulate interest in bird protection, but in the popular study 
of birds for the pleasure it brings. The list of contributors includes a 
number of well known ornithologists, as well as many popular writers of 
distinction on ornithological subjects. The edition is limited to 600 
numbered copies.— J. A. A. 
‘Papers | presented to the | World’s Congress | on | Ornithology | Edited by 
| Mrs. E. Irene Rood | Chairman Woman’s Committee of the Congress | 
under the direction of | Dr. Elliott Coues | President of the Congress, Ex- 
President of the American Ornithologist’s Union. | — “ Birds must and shall be 
protected.” | — | Chicago | Charles H. Sergel Company | 1896.— 8vo, pp. 208, 
(Price, $5.00, net.) 
