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A Guide to the Birds of New England 

 AND Eastern New York, containing a 

 key for each season and short descriptions 

 of over two hundred and fifty species, with 

 particular reference to their appearance in 

 the field. By Ralph Hoffmann, member 

 of the American Ornithologists' Union. 

 With four full-page plates by Louis 

 Agassiz Fuertes, and nearly one hun- 

 dred cuts in the text. Boston and New 

 York: Houghton, Mifl^in & Co. The 

 Riverside Press, Cambridge. 1904. i2mo. 

 xiii-f 357 pages. 



So many books designed to aid beginners 

 in identifying the birds of the northeastern 

 United States have appeared in the last fif- 

 teen years that, before opening this new 

 ' Guide,' one might well be pardoned for 

 believing it superfluous. A glance through 

 its pages, however, will be enough to con- 

 vince one that this is not the case. 



This work treats of practically all the 

 species of New England birds exclusive of 

 accidental visitants and very rare, irregular 

 stragglers. Short introductory chapters are 

 given on 'Birds and their Seasons,' 'Mi- 

 gration,' 'Distribution' (accompanied by 

 a map of the region covered, showing the 

 life zones) , ' Hints for Field Work ' and 

 'How to Use the Keys.' In the latter the 

 number of possibilities is narrowed by giv- 

 ing separate keys for winter, summer and 

 autumn, and one for each of the spring 

 months. 



In the body of the book we find family 

 headings, under which are summarized the 

 distribution and abundance of the species 

 and the prominent family characteristics. 

 The order now usually followed is reversed, 

 this book beginning with the Thrushes and 

 ending with the Grebes. 



An average of about a page is devoted to 

 each species. Following the description of 

 the bird's plumage, the nest and eggs are 

 briefly described. The first large type para- 

 graph gives the status of the species in the 

 region covered, — its abundance, distribu- 

 tion, time of occurrence and haunts. The 

 notes, habits and appearance of the bird in 

 the field are then described, with the one 

 object of identification in view. Mention is 



made of all species which might be mis- 

 taken by the beginner for the one under 

 consideration, and the differences between 

 them are fully discussed. This is the part of 

 the work which will be of greatest assistance 

 to the student. Frequent cross-references 

 facilitate efforts at identification. 



The book is illustrated by four full-page 

 plates by Fuertes and numerous cuts in the 

 text, most of them showing the head or head 

 and forepart- of body. An appendix gives 

 ' Lists of birds breeding in the three life 

 zones of New England and eastern New 

 York,' and a list of books of reference. 



It is our opinion that for beginners in the 

 restricted region covered by this book it will 

 prove to be the most helpful of any manual 

 yet published for the identification of birds 

 in the field.— W. De W. M. 



Baby Pathfinder to the Birds: A Pocket 

 Guide to One Hundred and Ten Land 

 Birds of New England, with Blank Pages 

 for Notes. By Harriet E. Richards 

 and Emma G. Cummings, members of 

 American Ornithologists' Union. Illus- 

 trated. W. A. Butterfield, Publisher, 

 59 Bromfield St., Boston, Mass. 1904. 

 125, leaves. 2 j4^ x 4^3 inches. 



The object and scope of this tiny booklet 

 are described in the following extract from 

 the preface: "This little guide has been 

 prepared primarily for New England, but 

 should be of service in New York, New 

 Jersey and Pennsylvania. Birds of prey, 

 game- and water-birds are not included. 

 The descriptions are based on the general 

 appearance of adult birds as seen in the 

 field. The small size and blank pages for 

 notes commend the book for use out-of- 

 doors, to be supplemented at home with 

 reference to more elaborate works." 



One hundred and ten of the commoner New 

 England land -birds, from the Cuckoos to 

 the Thrushes, are described. Each species 

 occupies a page, the reverse side of the leaf 

 being left blank for field notes. The larger 

 families are preceded by a few remarks on 

 the family characteristics. 



Description of plumage is followed by 



( 100) 



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