Michigan Ornithological Club 25 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Key to North American Birds. 1^'ifth edition, entirely revised. By Elliot 



Cones, Boston : Dana Estcs & Co., 190o. Two volnmes, royal 8 vo., 



xli., 1152 pages, 747 black and white illustrations in the text and two 



colored plates. Price, $10.00. 



In so great a degree is the development of American ornithology due 

 to Coues' "Key" that detailed comment upon the general nature of the new 

 (fifth) edition is unnecessary. 



The introductory portion is the same that has served as the text book 

 for a generation of ornithologists, while the main text is on the same plan 

 as that followed in the earlier editions. It has, however, been brought thor- 

 oughly up to date and the nomenclature is for the most part in accordance 

 with the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list. The serial numbers 

 arc, however, unfortunately omitted and the order remains reversed, the 

 Thrushes heading the line. 



To Mr. J. A. Farley, who has edited Dr. Coues' manuscript and made 

 the many changes and additions rendered necessary by the progress of the 

 science since the time of the author's death, great credit is due ; and the work 

 is no doubt as nearly what Dr. Coues had in mind as it was possible to make 

 it under the circumstances. The differences in nomenclature, etc., between 

 the "Key'' and the A. O. U. list are in the main intentional on the part of 

 the author. The printing is good and the work forms two handsome royal 

 octavo volumes. 



So far as illustrations go they are in some respects disappointing. The 

 prospectus with its sample colored plate led many to infer that there were 

 a number of such illustrations, there is, however, only one— a frontispiece — 

 in each qi the two volumes, and the mmierous excellent figuYes by Fuertes, 

 which supplement the familiar cuts of the earlier editions lose a great deal 

 of their beauty by being printed upon soft-finish paper. These slight defects, 

 however, deduct but little from what has always been and for years will be 

 a standard and indispensible work for the American ornithologist. 



A portrait of Dr. Coues and Mr. Elliot's masterly address upon his life 

 and work reprinted from the Auk form a suitable preface, while a list of 

 differences in nomenclature between the "Key" and the A. O. U. list by Mr. 

 I'arley is a useful feature. — W. S. 



The Bird.s of Ohio: A Complete, Scientific and Popular Description of the 

 320 Species of Birds found in the State. By William Leon Dawson, A. 

 M.. B. D. With Introduction and Analytical Keys by Lynds Jones, M. 

 Sc. The Wheaton Publishing Co., Columbus, 1903. xlvii -f- 660 pages 

 -}- Index. 80 colored plates and over 200 original halftones. Sold only 

 by subscription. 



The Birds of Ohio. By Lynds Jones, M. Sc. (Obcrlin College). Special 

 Paper, No. 6. Ohio State Academy of Science, 1003. 8 vo., 241 pages, 

 1 map. 



