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Recent Literature. [J"ly 



author. Meanwhile we can get along very well with Dr. Coues's excel- 

 lent little treatise. 



Before concluding, courtesy demands a second reference to the ostensible 

 author of "New England Bird Life." Seeing what any one with eyes may 

 see, we can only repeat our former comment, that Mr. Stearns is to be 

 congratulated on his choice of an editor. — W. B. 



Everett Smith's Catalogue of Maine Birds*. — This catalogue 

 is probably the most extended if not the most important ornithological 

 paper ever published by "Forest and Stream." Beginning in the issue 

 of that journal for December 28, 1882, it has appeared by instalments, 

 averaging about a page each, in all the consecutive numbers but two up 

 to that for April 26, 1883, with which it was completed. Its scope and 

 plan are thus briefly defined by the author in his introduction : "Although 

 this catalogue is intended to be merely a popular list of the birds of 

 Maine, I have endeavored to make it of scientific accuracy. Authorities 

 or references are named for such notes as are not within the personal 

 observation or corroboration of the writer." 



The system of scientific nomenclature adopted is a curious one. 

 Influenced by the unfortunate but incontestable fact that "no defined 

 rules ai-e adhered to by American ornithologists," and that "there is no 

 exclusive authority for reference in regard to the scientific names of our 

 birds," Mr. Smith hit upon the novel expedient of giving for each 

 species the names that have been used by what he considers the "three 

 foremost authorities" on North American birds; viz., Audubon, Ridgway, 

 and Coues; their respective works referred to being the "Birds of North 

 America," "Nomenclature of North American Birds," and the "Coues 

 Check List and Ornithological Dictionary," 1882. This plan, so far 

 as we are aware, is original. Its general adoption can scarcely be 

 recommended but, in view of the present unsettled condition of our 

 nomenclature, it is probably a useful feature in a paper of the intended 

 popular character of the present catalogue. 



In the list proper Mr. Smith has follov/ed the plan usual in fa.unal 

 papers. The character of the presence of each species is indicated; its 

 local distribution over the state mapped out ; and its average time of ar- 

 rival, if a migratory visitor, noted. In addition, a short account of 

 its habits is usually given. With the land birds, however, these 

 annotations are seldom extended, and it is noticeable that the 

 nesting, eggs, etc., of all but the commoner species are very briefly 

 treated. Such brevity was not unwise if we may judge the author's gen- 

 eral knowledge in this department by some of his present statements. 

 Of the many instances that might be selected we have room for only 

 the following : viz., that the eggs and habits of the Winter Wren "are 



* The Birds of Maine. With annotations of their comparative abundance, dates 

 of migration, breeding habits, etc. By Everett Smith. Forest and Stream, Vol. XIX, 

 Nos. 22-26; Vol. XX, Nos. 1-7 and 10-13. 



