524 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VoL. XXXIII. 
gossipy, accounts of the habits of the feathered tribes, without regard 
to the present status of the science of ornithology, appear regularly 
and find a ready sale. Realizing this, Mr. Evans has set himself a 
different task in the book before us. In the recent literature he has 
found no concise general account of the secies of the birds presented 
in a popular form, and he consequently planned to give one in the 
587 pages of this work. This plan precludes of course any original 
work, but it is in itself original enough, and daring to a degree. 
Manifestly a mere enumeration of the species would not do, while 
even the briefest description of each would more than fill the book. 
He has consequently been obliged to limit himself “ to a short descrip- 
tion of the majority of the forms in many of the families, and of the 
most typical and important of the innumerable species in the large 
Passerine order.” But even with this limitation the task would 
appear well-nigh impossible. Yet, in going over the book carefully, 
we have to admit that he has succeeded, and succeeded admirably ; 
for not only has he accomplished the above, but he has given in 
addition a compressed introduction to avian structure, external and 
internal; the various groups and divisions are characterized; the 
habits of the birds are briefly sketched in general terms, mostly under 
the heads of the families ; and the geographical distribution of the 
species mentioned is often given in considerable detail. Moreover, 
the fossil birds are treated similarly with the recent forms, and 
finally 144 woodcuts in the text illustrate the principal types. 
Fortunately for Mr. Evans he has been able to accept a thoroughly 
modern and scientific classification proposed by competent authority. 
It is but natural that he, as a Cambridge man, should adopt in the 
main Dr. Gadow’s system, and we may add that he might have 
gone farther and not fared as well. On the other hand, so far as the 
species and to a great extent also the genera are concerned, he has 
had the benefit of the now completed series of magnificent volumes 
constituting the catalogue of birds in the British Museum. Finally 
he appears to fall back upon the “ Strickland Code of Ornithological 
Nomenclature,” the elasticity of which enables those who profess to 
adhere to it to follow their own ideas, or “common sense,” as they 
are invariably styled. It is thus impossible to quarrel with Mr. 
Evans where one does not agree with his authorities. He has quoted 
them, and we have to settle our disputes directly with them. 
In judging the size of Mr. Evans’s task it must not be forgotten, 
however, that it is now twenty-five years since the first volume of the 
bird catalogues of the British Museum was issued, and that he has had 
