also express a hope, which I am sure will be joined 
in by all Ornithologists, that Captain Bendire’s Life 
Histories of North American Birds, of which the first 
part was published in 1892. will be continued and 
completed. Such a work is just what we require for 
a better understanding of the Nearctic Ornis.” In 
the body of his address Dr. Sclater invited attention to 
the lands as yet but little explored by the scientific 
Ornithologist, and the truly remarkable birds that still 
remained in them unknown to science. This part of 
the address was extremely interesting. 
“In concluding my remarks I will again urge upon 
you the great want of a convenient handbook on the 
anatomy of birds,” and after commenting to some ex- 
tent upon this subject the hope was held out that Mr. 
Beddard and Mr. Chalmers Mitchell will undertake 
and complete such a formidable task, R. W. S. 
THE second issue of 7ke Feather has come to hand, 
and its pages are stamped with an excellence of a high 
order. Some of the cuts and figures are brilliantly 
reproduced, and it contains a mass of interesting items 
and short articles. Among these is a good one on 
the ‘‘American Turkey,” illustrated by three figures; 
others are devoted to the Goldfinch, the Blue Jay, the 
Song Thrush of Europe, and several minor contribu- 
tions. It will be of interest to Ornithologists to learn 
that Dr. F. H. Knowlton, of the United States Na- 
tional Museum, and an associate member of the 
American Ornithologists’ Union, ‘‘has accepted a 
chair on the editorial staff of 7e Feather, and, be- 
ginning with the December number, will have exclu- 
sive charge of the bird department.” Certainly a 
better man could not have been selected. 
THE December (1895) issue of Popular Science News 
comes to us very much enlarged and improved. It is 
brimful of scientific items, presented in a popular 
style, calculated to interest the general reader and ex- 
tend the boundaries of common knowledge and infor- 
mation. Now, this is an extremely important field to 
occupy, and the journal that can successfully fill the 
place of a medium between strict technical science on 
the one hand, and the popular mind on the other, is 
performing a work of the greatest usefulness possible. 
Indeed, it is chiefly through such media that we can 
hope for general enlightenment of the people, and a 
universal circulation of knowledge among men. But 
such a calling is full of danger, and it ought to be well 
appreciated, especially the responsibility assumed by 
the organ that stands guard over the conduit that 
passes the popularized material garnered from the 
coffers of science, to the minds of the masses, where 
it is intended to further the ends of education. It de- 
volves upon that organ to see well to it that none but 
the strictest facts slip through, none but what will 
bear truth’s most brilliant illumination, and these 
couched in language so simple that even the most ordi- 
nary mind will be capable of receiving and assimila- 
ting them. We sometimes fear that our worthy con- 
temporary is a little derelict in such matters, and 
when I say this, I refer to the issue of the Popular 
Science News for December. Here, in the column 
entitled *‘Science Gossip,” on page 192, we meet 
with no less than eighteen statements made, and that 
with the intention of conveying scientific information 
to the people To bear out what I have just said per- 
mit me to give an example of one or two of these. It 
is there said, for instance, that ‘‘the only quadruped 
that lays eggs is the Ornithorhynchus, of Australia.” 
This is ot true, for Echidva does the same thing. 
Again it is there said. that ‘‘the smallest bird isa 
species of Hummingbird common in Mexico and 
Central America. It is not quite so large as a blue- 
THE NIDOLOGIST 55 
bottle fly.” The smallest Hummingbird known to 
science has a total length of two inches and three 
eighths of an inch. There may be ** bluebottle flies” 
as big as this, but—we've never seen them! Itis one 
of the most pernicious things that we can do, is to 
start a wrong tidea about anything, for a wrong idea 
once started may deceive its thousands before it can 
again be eradicated from the minds of the people, 
and this is very bad from every educational point of 
view that we know anything about. 
There is a very excellent article in this number of 
the Mews, by Professor Charles H. Coe, entitled 
‘““The Great Vulture of the Andes,” and what Pro- 
fessor Coe says in it about the propriety of securing 
alive Condor for the National Zodlogical Gardens, 
and better specimens for the United States National 
Museum, is only too true and should be acted upon. 
R. W. S. 
Ex.uior: North American Shore Birds is the title of 
a charming work, which the author describes as ‘‘a 
reference book for the naturalist, sportsman, and 
lover of birds.” Elliot’s valuable monographs of the 
Grouse, Pheasants, Birds of Paradise, etc., are famil- 
iar to all Ornithologists, and this, his first work of a 
more popular character, on a subject so happily 
chosen, cannot fail to be welcomed most heartily. 
The book is embellished richly with over seventy full- 
page plates, drawn by Mr. Edwin Sheppard, of the 
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. The au- 
thor has made a special study of the Zimico/e, and 
writes very pleasingly of their habits, as he has ob- 
served them in extensive travels, extending from 
Alaska to Rio Janeiro. Technical terms are avoided 
as far as possible, and the glossary, a ‘‘map” of a 
bird, with the terms used in describing it clearly indi- 
cated, and a key to the families and genera will prove 
valuable aids tothe sportsman or amateur student of 
birds. The letterpress is in the best style. We pre- 
dict for this work the large sale which it undoubtedly 
merits. Isla kes alls 
THE new and a long-looked-for A. O. U. Check-List 
of North American Birds has just been issued. This 
second and revised edition of the Check-List repre- 
sents the results of the careful labors of the committee 
appointed by the Union, consisting of Elliott Coues, 
J. A. Allen, Robert Ridgway, William Brewster, and 
H. W. Henshaw. Zhe Code of Nomenclature, pub- 
lished separately in 1892, has been omitted, but the 
new edition includes all the additions and changes in 
nomenclature made in the several supplements since 
the publication of the original edition. The ‘* habi- 
tats’’ of the species and subspecies have been carefully 
revised. Following the ‘‘ Hypothetical List” a list of 
the fossil birds of North America has been appended. 
Twenty-six pages are covered in the comprehensive 
index, including both the scientific and common 
names. The new Cfeck-List will be practically in- 
valuable to all working Ornithologists. It is supposed 
that it will stand, without another edition, for fully 
ten years to come. He Roe 
> + > 
READY FOR MAILING.—We will send copies of this 
number of THE NIDOLOGIST, postpaid, to any address 
for ten cents each; six for fifty cents; or will supply 
any quantity desired in envelopes ready for mailing. 
One dollar, sent for a new subscription, will pay for 
six extra copies of this issue and the magazine for a 
year, besides the two premium plates free of all charge. 
I CONGRATULATE you on the excellent magazine 
you are giving us. It is a thing of beauty, conse- 
quently a joy forever. E. E. BREWSTER. 
