'^^ii- Recent Literature. 



55 



observations made during September, 1881, at Fort Berthold, Dakota 

 Territory. Fiftj'-seven species were identified, a fair number considering 

 the season and the limited time spent in the field. The annotations are 

 usually very brief, one of the longest being that relating to the Bald 

 Eagle, from which we quote the following: "During the last week of 

 September 'Eagle Hunters' of the Hidatsa and Arikaras [Indians] started 

 out for the purpose of catching these birds for their tail feathers, which 

 are highly prized for head ornaments and war bonnets. The price paid 

 for very ordinary feathers was seventy-five cents, while good ones brought 

 a dollar and frequently a dollar and fifty cents apiece. The method 

 adopted in catchipg eagles is as follows : after selecting one of the most 

 elevated points of land, a hole is dug large enough to allow the watcher 

 sufficient room to turn around in. Branches, leaves, and grass, are then 

 laid across the opening so as to give everything the appearance of the 

 surrounding country. A live rabbit or domestic fowl is then secured by a 

 thong and placed over the top of the artificial surface in which openings 

 are left for the hidden observer. Should an eagle alight to secure the 

 quarry, he is immediately caught by the legs and tied. Often the captives 

 are taken to camp to be plucked after which they are again set at liberty." 

 A novel feature of the list is that of the Indian names which are given 

 for many of the common birds. With the exception of occasional bad 

 spelling of scientific names the paper is well printed. — W. B. 



Caisadian Birds. — The report of the Ornithological and Oblogical 

 Branch of the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club for 1881, published in the 

 " Transactions " of that Club, No. 3, pp. 26-34, consists of a general com- 

 mentary on the bird-fauna, signed by Geo. R. White and W. L. Scott, 

 and an Appendix, forming a '"List of the Birds found in the vicinity of 

 Ottawa City, specimenvS- of which have been shot within the last few 

 years." The list is briefly annotated, and contains 169 species of 120 

 genera and 39 families — among them Podiceps occidentalts. This is 

 probably correct. But we are astounded to see in the list Harporhynchus 

 cinereus! Parus riifescensl Vireo pusillusl Glaucidimn fasserinum var 

 californiruml This of course puts the whole aftair under a cloud as an 

 incompetent and doubtless pretty nearly worthless performance. — E. C. 



Cory's Beautiful and Curious Birds. — Since our last notice* of 

 this work two parts have appeared. Part IV contains plates of Pseudo- 

 gryfhus californianus., our North American Condor; CamJ)tol(smus lab- 

 radorms, the Labrador Duck ; and Astrapia nigra, the Incomparable Bird 

 of Paradise. Part V has illustration's of Epimachus mag7ms,\ the Mag- 

 nificent Bird of Paradise, Epimachus ellioti, Elliot's Bird of Paradise, and 

 Pluvianus cegyptius, the interesting Crocodile Bird of the Nile. 



*This Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. 240. For earlier notices see Vol. V, p. 236; Vol. VI, pp. 

 Ill, 112. 



tThe above name is appended to the plate but Ephnachus speciosus is used at the 

 head of the accompanying text, Epimachus ma^/?7fs being placed in the list of synonyms- 



