420 REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 
a number of species and varieties published since the appearance — 
of the Key, the list being brought down to April of the present 
year. In his preface the author alludes to the “ many needless 
and burdensome generic names,” unfortunately adopted in Prof. 
Baird’s great work, “for,” he adds, “ sanctioned by the usage of 
such high authority, they have passed current, and are too closely 
ingrained in our nomenclature to be soon eradicated.” This, how- 
ever, only represents one of the phases through which our science 
has passed, and which was not wholly without redeeming features, 
however true it may be that the time has come for us to rid our 
selves of such now useless relics. During the publication of the 
Key, Dr. Coues instituted this needed reform, but too late for its 
systematic application throughout the class. The land birds were 
hence left in this respect unchanged, while in the generic names of 
the waders and swimmers we were carried back again to the days 
of Audubon, the genera adopted being essentially those of his Sy- 
nopsis. The publication of the “ Check List” seemed to present 
a favorable opportunity for a similar restriction among the land 
birds, which our author has failed to improve. It is hence a mat- 
ter of regret that he has rigidly adhered to the Key, instead of er 
departing from it sufficiently to have given us à consistent system: 
of generic names throughout. — J. A. A. 
REEE E r AA A 
Tue Burrerriies or Norra America. *— The success (in every 
way but a pecuniary one) of the first series of this admirable 
work, has led to the publication of a second. This will not be 
strictly confined to the descriptions and delineations of new spe 
cies, but the metamorphoses of species before described will be - 
given, a much more important matter than the description and a 
illustration of new species, unless accompanied by life histoni a 
The plates of this new part are thoroughly well done; 4 little me 
attention, however, to the drawing of the larvæ and pupe "ema 
add to the perfect accuracy of the figures devoted to them, though 
the faults we perceive in one or two cases, i. e. an indistinetness of 
outline of the body and its parts, may be due to the printer. 
wish the pages could be numbered, for ease in future Te a 
The text is lucid and interesting, the plates are not inferior "a 
best ever published in Europe, and the work is in every WH 
` *The Butterflies of North America, with colored drawings and deseription®- p 
H. Ædwards. Second Series, Part I. New York: Hurd and Hough Ma 
4to, pp. 18 and 5 colored plates. $2.50 a part, 
AA R E ie 
