1876.] Progress of Ornithology in the United States. 545 
Among the numerous papers of a critical or monographic 
character may be mentioned Bonaparte’s Observations on the 
Nomenclature of Wilson’s Ornithology, published in 1824-26 
(Journal of the Academy of Natural Science, Philadelphia, vols. 
üi iv., v.), in which were first introduced into the annals of 
North American ornithology a large proportion of the generic 
names now in current use, a few only of which were first pro- 
posed in this essay. It created, however, a revolution in the Wil- 
sonian nomenclature. Audubon’s Synopsis (1839) again brought 
down the nomenclature to the date of its publication, through 
the adoption of the changes made necessary by the further 
increase of knowledge. The Audubonian nomenclature was gen- 
erally in use in this country till the appearance of Baird, Cassin, 
. and Lawrence’s great work in 1858, when a number of new 
generic and subgeneric names were proposed, and the nomencla- 
ture again modernized. Comparatively few generic names have 
since been introduced, but revisionary work of a somewhat differ- 
ent character (to be noticed later) has already greatly modified 
the nomenclature of 1858. 
mong revisionary papers of a minor but more general char- 
acter are numerous critical essays by Cassin, especially on the 
leteride and Picide, the Raptores, the Cerebide, Caprimul- 
gidæ, ete. ; by Baird, in his Review of American Birds; by 
Coues among the Laridæ, Procellariide, Grallæ, Colymbide, 
Spheniscide, ete. ; by Ridgway among the Raptores and by Ban- 
nister among the Anseres, ete. Of separate monographic papers 
: sai be mentioned those of Coues on the genus Ægiothus, the 
Tringa, Alcide, etc., Bryant on the genus Cattaractes, and Ridg- 
Q Way on various groups of the Raptores and Oscines, the genus 
| Leucosticte, ete. 
The anatomy and embryology of our birds have not received 
the attention these subjects deserve, but a number of papers 
ave appeared treating more or less in detail of particular points. 
a” Coues has published an account of the myology of Colymbus 
—— rquatus-and various notes on the structure of the Spheniscide ; 
Streets has written on the characters of the skull in birds, and 
Mr. Ridgway has called attention to various points in the osteol- 
By of the Raptores. Agassiz and Wyman have noticed a few 
Points in the development of birds, while Prof. E. S. Morse has 
“trefully Studied the development of the tarsus and carpus with 
Py confirmatory of the previously suspected affinities existing 
mk en ie and reptiles. 
xX. —_ No, 
