548 Progress of Ornithology in the United States. [September, 
ative List) gave the number of North American species as four 
hundred and seventy-one, while in 1839 the number described by 
Audubon (in his Synopsis) was four hundred and ninety-one. | 
Nearly all of these had been re-figured by Audubon, the figures 
being all of life size, and as yet unsurpassed in fidelity or artistic 
effect. Audubon had likewise largely increased our knowledge 
of their distribution and habits, while the greater part had, more- 
over, found a valuable biographer in Thomas Nuttall. The pub- 
lication of numerous minor papers had also contributed largely 
to a better knowledge of many of the species. 
In 1844 the number of species had increased to five hundred and 
six, the number given by Audubon in his Birds of North America. 
In 1858 the number had risen to seven hundred and sixteen, all 
of which had been ably elaborated by the authors of the General 
Report, their affinities thoroughly. discussed, and their nomenclat- 
ure carefully revised. In the mean time numerous special papers 
had appeared relating to their habits and distribution. Yet the 
nests and eggs, and even the winter and summer resorts, of many 
of the species still remained unknown. ie 
From this time onward information respecting our birds in- 
creased more rapidly than before; new workers came promi 
nently into the field, and a rapid advance marked every yeal: 
At the present time the number of generally accepted species 
entitled to recognition as birds of that portion of North Americ 
north of Mexico is not less than six hundred and fifty, with, m 
addition, about one hundred and fifty commonly recognized sub- 
species, or about eight hundred recognized forms. The nests, 
eggs, and general habits of nearly all are now well known, pat- 
ticularly of those which occur east 0 
mong the recently discovered extinct species hav 
entirely new types representing what is believed to be a BE” 
sub-class, they having true teeth and other characters u 
lating them to reptiles, between which and true birds they un 
doubtedly form connecting links. 
Another phase of progress that should not pa 
this connection is the attention that has been paid to the ge” 
graphical distribution of the species, with especial reference a 
the determination of the different faunal areas in North Amer 
many of which are already known with a tolerable degree 
definiteness ; also the tendency to study 
and specific forms from a geographical an 
point. Formerly the study of our birds w 
new 
d evolutionary 
as pursued w. 
ss unnoticed W 
: ife 
the various sub-spe™” 
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