
914 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
single species or many ; and not that diverse types are to be thrown 
together, if they happen to have some striking features in common 
and are each represented by single species. 
The enumeration of Reithrodontomys as a characteristic South 
American genus (p. 480) is probably an inadvertence, as is perhaps 
the statement that Capromys “ is found only in the islands of Cuba 
and Jamaica," whereas there is a species in the Bahamas, another on 
Swan Island, coast of Honduras, and still another in Venezuela. It is, 
however, surprising to find currency again given, especially in a work 
of high scientific standing, to the long since exploded myth of the 
" happy-family" relations of the prairie dog, owl, and rattlesnake. 
It is also rather surprising to find the statement (p. 518) that the 
common mole of the eastern United States (Scalops aguaticus) is 
“a creature of largely aquatic habits," — a wholly false inference, 
derived apparently from the animal's unfortunate specific name. It 
is.also not quite true that the arctic fox (Canis lagopus) “is known by 
its bluish summer coat and pure white winter dress as ‘blue fox’ and 
‘white fox’ respectively.” This has been so often stated in books of 
natural history that Mr. Beddard cannot be blamed for repeating it ; 
but the truth is that the blue and white phases are not altogether 
seasonal conditions, since at some localities, as the Aleutian and 
Pribilof Islands, only blue foxes are found. Indeed the blue foxes 
of these islands are regarded by the latest authorities on the group 
as specifically distinct from the white fox. 
The foregoing criticisms relate for the most part to minor matters, 
which do not seriously detract from the value of the work. As would 
be expected, Mr. Beddard’s treatment of his subject is thorough, and 
fairly represents the latest generally accepted views and results in 
Systematic mammalogy, a field in which he has long been an ener- 
getic worker and a recognized authority. The publishers have done 
well their part in placing before the public a needed work of great 
merit in pleasing form. The paper and typography are all that could 
be desired, and the illustrations, abundant and well-selected (those 
of structural characters are mainly after Flower, Wiederscheim, 
De Blainville, Osborn, and others), are printed with admirable clear- 
ness. Mr. Dixon’s numerous full-length drawings are of unequal 
merit, but most of them are both satisfactorily artistic and effective, 
while some are admirable. Í A 

