78 Bullet in No. /y. 



preface or an introduction, we are at once transported to the meadows 

 and there introduced to the feathered inhabitants. The series of essays 

 — each a "sketch" of a single species of birds — are arranged in eight 

 groups, each group preceeded by a well chosen essay descriptive of the 

 natural division of the landscape of which it treats, and giving a hint of 

 the bird life to be found there. 



These essays are "Sketches of Some Common Birds," and hence, he 

 who expects exhaustive or purely scientific treatment of the species, will 

 be disappointed. The author's aim has been to present that and that 

 only which he has learned while with the birds in the field, without any 

 greater attention and labor than can be given by any busy person ; to 

 make both attractive and profitable strolls into fields and woods by intro- 

 ducing to the reader the birds which must certainly come within the 

 range of vision in such places ; to open the eyes and unstop the ears of 

 those who go out of doors only into the orchard, or garden, or tree-lined 

 street, there to see and hear the many birds about them, perhaps wholly 

 unnoticed before. 



All of the eighteen full page illustrations, are half tones of photographs 

 from life, many of them being of the young and nest after Shufeldt. 



The chief defect is the lack of an index, which is not fully compen- 

 sated for by a table of contents. The 331 pages of matter should be 

 made easily accessible by a complete index. 



The volume is to be commended for its pleasing presentation of the 

 habits and characteristics of our common birds, thus interesting many in 

 them who have never noticed them before. In these days of awakening 

 interest in the birds, there is great need for such books to point out 

 methods of study while teaching the names of birds. 



Birds of Maine, by Ora W. Knight, B. S. In this catalog Mr. Knight 

 has shown us what can be done by organizing the forces at command 

 and working toward a common end. It is by such methods that future 

 state lists will be made approximately complete and therefore the geo- 

 graphical distribution of all species thruout the country more completely 

 mapped. The list is admirably arranged both with reference to the ac- 

 cessibility of the information at his command and the credit due to 

 contributors. May such lists from other states speedily follow. 



A Study of the Philadelphia Vireo {Vireo fhiladelfhictis) by Jonahan 

 Dwight, Jr., M. D. From 'The Auk,' Vol. XIV, No. 3, July, 1897. In 

 this admirable " Study," Dr. Dwright has given us a hold on the charac- 

 teristics of the Philadelphia Vireo which will enable us to distinguish 

 him in the field with certainty. 



