open Se a a ar a ee a ls ee Senn nee 
1894.] Recent Literature. 787 
its as a teacher, which, indeed, cannot be exaggerated. He greatly 
popularized the pursuit of science in America, and the effect of his life 
and labors in this direction has been greater than that of any man, 
probably of many men. The pursuit of science was to him, as it 
should be to all, a duty undertaken for the elevation of human thought. 
That the visible nature is the material expression of the thoughts of 
God, was Agassiz’s oft expressed belief. Doubtless he was correct, but 
the proof of it comes in a way different from that which this great 
naturalist anticipated ; that is, through the direction of evolutionary 
descent. Perhaps if Agassiz had lived longer, he would have adopted 
this view, and embellished it as he did all his teachings.—C. 
Nuttall’s Ornithology.'— This hand-book of ornithology is pub- 
lished in two handsome volumes 8vo, of some 400 pp. each. It is prac- 
tically a new edition of Nuttall's Manual, which has been out of print 
for several years, to which the editor has added brief notes relating the 
results of recent determinations in distribution and habits. The intro- 
duction is given exactly as it appeared in Nuttall's second edition, and 
the text of the biographical matter has been changed but little. To 
this Mr. Chamberlain adds a description of the plumage, nest and eggs 
of each species. 
In his treatment of the subject, the author covers the entire area of 
the Eastern Faunal Province from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic 
Ocean. The nomenclature adopted is that of the Check List issued by 
the American Ornithologists’ Union. The illustrations are mostly 
drawn especially for the work. They are of excellent quality and are 
of size appropriate to that of the pages. 
Nuttall’s Manual was fora long time the only text-book of American 
ornithology available to pockets of limited resources. Its style and 
treatment of the subject are most attractive, and it has probably done 
more to diffuse a knowledge of the subject than any other work. Boys 
read it who had access to no other, and many naturalists of to-day 
date their interest in their science to the charm of its pages. Although 
the excellent works of Coues and Ridgway have made us better ac- 
quainted with the science of ornithology, nothing has superseded Nut- 
tall’s work as a delineator of habits and manners of birds. It was a 
happy thought that resulted in the publication of this new edition un- 
der Mr. Chamberlain’s editorship. 
? A Popular Hand-book of the Ornithology of the United States and Canada, 
based on Nuttall’s Manual. By Montague Chamberlain. Boston: Little, Brown 
& Co., 1891. 
