REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 549 
shells, through the excess of saline matter held in solution by the 
water. These shells embraced several species, which were abun- 
dantly represented. Such facts as these seem to explain the 
occurrence of beds of fossils under circumstances which show that 
they died from some sudden, though not very evident, cause. 
Dr. Coues’s paper forms a highly valuable contribution to the 
natural history of Beaufort harbor, and one that students of geo- 
graphical zoology will heartily welcome. — J. A. A. 
Giepet’s Tuesaurvs.* — Close upon the notable “ Hand-list,” of 
which we were lately called upon to speak, comes another general 
work of greater aims and claims. We have as yet only the first 
twenty-five signatures, constituting the first ‘‘balbhand ;” and we 
may sincerely say we wish it were necessary to wait for the whole, 
before judging the work, in the hope of some decided improvement 
becoming manifest. But as what we have in hand finishes the “Rep- 
ertorium” and fairly opens the ‘“ Nomenclator,” the character of the 
work is fully exposed. We had been led to expect great things of 
the Thesaurus, and opened it with perfect confidence; at the close 
~ of our examination—the longer protracted because our convic- 
tions became the more painfully prominent, and we were anxious 
to find ourselves in the wrong — we could not but regret that the 
fruits of such immense labor should be marred for lack of the 
care necessary for the compilation of works of reference. Dr. 
Giebel is sure of a storm of hostile criticism, that his work singu- 
larly invites if it does not actually enforce ; for the simple reason 
that it is thoroughly unreliable. We have never seen a work of 
any considerable claims and merit, that more richly deserved the 
epithet “slovenly.” It fairly bristles with misstatements ; probably 
this whole number of the Naruraiist would not more than suffice 
to point out and correct them. The more’s the pity, too, that this 
monument of laborious research should be defaced, not by lack of 
ability, not by erroneous opinions, not particularly by ignorance, 
but simply by carelessness. Yet, honey-combed with inaccuracy 
as it is, the work will, we are glad to say, become indispensa- 
ble ; it will find its place at the elbow of every working: ornithol- 
gist; it represents too much hard work for any other result to 
be possible. | To 
* 
logie. Repertorium der gesammten ornithologischen literatur, 
