°g 'jj 1 Recent Literature. ^ 1 S 



size of tlie negative from wliicii tliey are reproduced. The illustrations, 

 therefore, in several instances (<?. ^., the Gannets on the Bass Rock and 

 PutKns on Lunga) fail to do justice to the exceedingly interesting subjects 

 they represent. However, the ditMculties to be encountered in photo- 

 graphic -work of this nature are so innumerable that perfection is out of 

 the question, and far from criticising Mr. Lee for a failure to alwavs 

 reach his own high standard, we should remember that liis skill and 

 energy has given us the best work of its kind which has thus far appeared. 

 — F. M. C. 



Butler's ' Birds of Indiana." — In 1S90 Mr. Butler published an excel- 

 lent, extensively annotated ' Catalogue of the Birds of Indiana' (See Auk, 

 Mil, 1S91, pp. 3S3, 3S4), embracing 301 species, with a supplementary 

 ' Hypothical List ' of 79 species. The present ' Birds of Indiana' is a much 

 more comprehensive work, the former enumeration being not only 

 brought down to date, and expanded by the introduction of much new 

 matter relating to the habits and nature of the occurrence of the species 

 in Indiana, but by technichal descriptions and ke^s to the genera and 

 species, and by many additional illustrations. It is thus well adapted to 

 furnish the information demanded bj' the present greatly increased inter- 

 est in birds, in the State of Indiana as elsewhere, in reference to their 

 varied economic and other relations. In the present treatise of neaiiv 

 650 octavo pages, the number of species recorded as positively known to 

 occur in the State is 321, with a supplemental list of Si, given as of more 

 or less probable occurrence, from their having. been taken in adjoining 

 States. 



The work opens with an 'Introduction' (pp. 515-531), treating of the 

 position and physiographic features of the State, and of the changes that 

 have taken place in its bird life and their causes, and a comprehensive bib- 

 liography (pp. 532-54S). While this report is based largely on the notes 

 of the author, ■' made principally in southeastern Indiana within the past 

 twenty-one years," all other available material bearing on the subject is 

 apparently utilized, for which due acknowledgment is formallv made. 

 Most of the ' keys,' for example, are (by permission) from Mr. Ridgway"s 

 ' Manual of North American Birds,' and the technical descriptions are 

 in many instances transferred from the same or similar standard sources. 

 Many of the cuts are from Dr. Coues's ' Kev to North American Birds.' 

 while those of the publications of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 through the kindness of Dr. Merriam, have been extensively drawn 

 upon, particularly those relating to the Hawks and Owls, the Wood- 



' The Birds of Indiana. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds that have 

 been observed within the State, with an account of their habits. By Amos 

 W. Butler. Report of the State Geologist of Indiana for 1S97, pp. 515-11S7. 

 Indianapolis, Ind., 1S9S. Also separate, same pagination. 



