ie ee Pe I Re! 
wri hy etal (oy Hs ef i? PA y $ 
4 
$ 
1886.] Recent Literature. 539 
four younger men. The work of compiling such a record as this 
is a great labor, but is a most useful task, and the results are a 
great boon to those situated away from libraries. To such the 
purchase of the Record is earnestly commended. It is published 
by Mr, J. Van Voorst, Paternoster row, London. 
THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION CHECK-LIST OF NORTH 
American Birps.'—This catalogue of North American birds, as 
the latest issued, is the most complete, and will be a useful work 
of reference to ornithologists. The volume also contains a digest 
of rules of nomenclature adopted by the American Ornithologists’ 
Union. There has always been a large proportion of authors of 
works on birds with literary rather than scientific tastes, so that 
the conclusions of an ornithologists’ union will require careful 
Scrutiny on the part of the scientific investigator. The danger 
from the side of letters is the subordination of the true interests 
of scientific research to red tape and literary archeology. The 
way to do this is to excuse authors from giving definitions to the 
new words they introduce, and so to open wide the doors to ama- 
teurism and its attendant confusion and redundancy. We are 
glad to observe that the new code agrees with the old ones in re- 
quiring that new generic names shall be defined in order to be 
adopted. But a few pages later the code contradicts itself by say- 
Mig that when an author describes a new species which belongs 
Oa new 
require definitions in all cases. Nor do we find the code clear as 
ted than quadrinomial ones. The question is, however, 
pre one of taste, than of any serious moment. 
pees Part from these points we concur heartily in the rules of the 
k 
RECENT BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS. 
ker, R—Note on the zodlogical position of the genus Microchærus. Both 
ydek, 
Coo Pei os Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., 1885. All from the author. oe 
a thee Annual report of the State geologist of New Jersey, 1885. From the — $ 
zi geal R, C.—Summary report of the operations of Geological and Natural 
Dia Survey of Canada to 31st Dec., 1885. From the author. a eae 
Lducation.—Report of the Commissioner of Education, 1883-84. From — 
the department. : ep e Lom , ; = 
L. lee York, American Ornithologists’ Union. 1886, 8vo, pp. 392- For sale by 
: 3. or. city. $3. ; : s i ERE A e 
oster, 35 Pine street, New York 
