June, 1884.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



71 



Key to North American Birds. 



and 



At no previous period in the history of 

 Ornithology have its students been so 

 numerous or enthusiastic as at present. 

 Various circumstances have lately brought 

 the study of Birds on both sides of the 

 Atlantic prominently before the general 

 public. The interest thus excited, if not 

 deeply rooted, is an encouragement to 

 those who have made the study their life 

 work, and have brought to it a scientific 

 temperament which has worthily gained 

 for them the position of leaders and 

 guides to their more humble followers. 

 Among these, primus inter pares, stands 

 Dr. Elliott Coues, whose numerous and 

 thoroughly reliable works have gained 

 him the enviable position he now holds. 



The re-publication of his " Key,"* if 

 long delayed, has come at an "opportune 

 moment, and serves to emphasize an era 

 in the history of North American Orni- 

 thology. It is, unfortunately, only possi- 

 ble within the limits at our disposal, to 

 give our readers a very inadequate idea of 

 the contents of this volume. 



The " Key " retains little of the former 

 edition except the name and purpose. It 

 has been entirely re-written, and contains 

 a much larger number of illustrations — 

 some original, and others from various 

 acknowledged sources. 



We notice especially the conscientious 

 care of the author to make his descrip- 

 tions perfectly clear and precise, and to 

 leave no loophole for a misunderstanding 

 of his meaning. Not only are the Latin 

 and Greek words exactly translated, but 



•Key to North American Birds. Containing a con- 

 cise account of every species of Living and Fossil Bird at 

 present known from the Continent north of the Mexican 

 and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland. Sec- 

 ond edition, revised to date and entirely re-written, with 

 which are incorporated General Ornithology : An out- 

 line of the structure and classification of Birds ; Field 

 Ornithology : A manual of collecting, preparing and pre- 

 serving Birds. By Elliott Coues, M. A., M. D., Ph. D., 

 Member of the National Academy of Sciences, etc., etc. 

 Profusely illustrated. Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 18S4, pp. 

 XXX— 863. 



the less common words of Latin 

 Greek origin are clearly explained. 



As the necessity for this has been fre- 

 quently pointed out in this magazine, we 

 refer to the matter with much pleasure, 

 being convinced that the popularity of the 

 work is enhanced thereby. 



The book is divided into four parts. 

 Part I, pp. 1 — 58, consists of the author's 

 " Field Ornithology," originally published 

 as a separate treatise in 1874. It is re- 

 printed nearly verbatim, but with some 

 little amplification towards its end. 



Part II, pp. 59 — 236, consists of the in- 

 troductory matter of the old "Key" very 

 greatly amplified. It is a sort of " Closet 

 Ornithology" as distinguished from a 

 "Field Ornithology," teaching the princi- 

 ples of the science and illustrating their 

 application. 



Part III, pp. 237—820, being the main 

 body of the work, describes all the spe- 

 cies and sub-species of North American 

 Birds known to the author, defines the 

 genera, and characterizes the families and 

 higher groups. The descriptions are 

 much more elaborate than those of the old 

 " Key " — the purpose kept steadily in 

 view being the ready identification of 

 specimens. Geographical distribution is 

 also more fully treated, and more atten- 

 tion has been paid to the descriptions of 

 the plumages of females and young birds. 



Part IV, pp. 821 — 830, consists of a 

 synopsis of the Fossil Birds of North 

 America, and has, as before, been revised 

 by Professor O. C. March. 



That the author has availed himself of 

 the many treatises which have appeared 

 since the former " Key " was written, and 

 of the researches of numerous workers in 

 the interval, goes without saying. 



In the present condition of scientific 

 research, when so many monographs are 

 published both in the magazines and as 

 separate volumes, it is always well periodi- 

 cally to look over the field as a whole, to 

 see where we are and what real work has 



