No. 390.] REVIEWS OF RECENT LITERATURE. 525 
to bring the subject down to date, as exemplified by the “ addendum ” 
(p. viii), containing references to forms described during the printing 
of the Birds. 
It will be understood that not the least difficult part of the problem 
has been to introduce the enormous number of species and to present 
the “dry matter” of their structure, color, and distribution in such a 
way as not to become monotonous, and to condense the account of 
the habits sufficiently while yet retaining a readable form. In both 
respects Mr. Evans has proved himself a master. Where one hardly 
expects to find room for the mere mention of the names, one is sur- 
prised and delighted to find pages brimful of boiled down facts, yet 
holding one’s attention and reading as smoothly as a novel. Mr. 
Evans has selected for his motto Virgil’s Zn sicco ludunt fulice, with the 
equivalent rendition: “ Loons disport themselves on dry matters ” 
but he certainly does not need this humorous apology. 
It is plain, however, from what has been said of the plan, that the 
main value of the book depends on the accuracy of the statements it 
contains. To verify them all is not the reviewer’s task, but in the 
short time he has had the use of the book he has tested it in many 
places and many ways, and in every case found it essentially correct. 
Of course nothing else was expected of Mr. Evans, with his intimate 
knowledge of the literature and his careful and painstaking method ; 
yet it is pleasing to find that these qualities are paired with a critical 
skill of no mean order. Moreover, in cases of unusual or uncor- 
roborated statement, Mr. Evans has mostly given his authorities in 
footnotes. As a matter of fact most of the matter is necessarily 
second-hand, the responsibility of the author being chiefly confined 
to the selection, and of course he does not guarantee the accuracy of his 
informants except in a general way. Thus, on page 313, in speaking 
of Sterna longipennis having “ blackish feet,” he adds in a footnote 
that “ Mr. Barrett-Hamilton, however, tells the author that the feet 
are red in life,” while as a matter of fact the feet of this species are 
neither black nor red, but “ blackish red ” or “ dark reddish brown ” 
(Stejn., Orn. Expl. Kamtsch., p. 85). 
Most of the illustrations are by Mr. G. C. Lodge, apparently made 
specially for this book. The majority must be pronounced both 
accurate and characteristic, while some are admirable in every respect. 
The sober attitudes of the bird and the total absence of “ scenery ” 
are highly commendable. The much admired woodcuts from the 
Natural History of Selborne may be more artistic, but a com- 
parison with those which have been borrowed from the latter work, 
