THE SCIENTIST. 
HI 
Part III. "System itic Syn )psis of North 
American Bird>," occupyinjj in the body of 
the book some 534 p^ges, is profusely illus- 
trated with upwards of 450 fine wood cut- 
and describes 878 species and sub species of 
-North A^nericaii birds besides defining the 
genera and characteristics of families and 
higher groups. 
The descriptions are elaborate, much at- 
tention being given to biographical items, 
nests and eggs, the song, flight, migration 
and other habits with technical dcscnplion 
of the species. Geographical distribrution 
is given prominence as is description of the 
plumages of females and young birds. We 
als) find the specific names m irked as they 
should be accented, with their e ymology 
concisely stated. 
The Systematic synopsis of the fossil birds 
of North America is included in Part IV. 
and describes forty-six species. 
The copious index, occupying thirty two 
pages with three columnes to the page, solid 
matter, is a m DSt important feature of the 
book an is so complete that serves excellently 
"as a glossary of the terminology of ornitho- 
logy." 
The appendix exhibits the momenclature 
of the A. O. U. check-list in comparison 
with that of the "Key" and includes de- 
scription of additional species, occupying 
over thirty pages. 
The Second Appendix, contains all chang' s 
reported by the A. O. U. Committee up to 
Jan. 1890, printing in bold type those 
species and sub species which the author is 
prepared to admit to his "Key." 
As the press work is by the celebrated 
University Press of Cambridge, it is of course, 
typographically as perfect as the most skill- 
ful workmen of this country can make it. 
The Popular Science Monthly. Edited 
by W. J. Youmans. PubUshed by 
D. Appleton & Co., 1, 3, & 5 Bond 
Street, New York, has the following 
contents for July, 1891: 
I. — The development of America indus- 
tries since Columbus. VI. The evolution 
of wool spinning and weaving. By S. N. 
Dexter North. (Illustrated.) 
II. — Man and the glacial period. By 
Prof. G. Fredrick Wright. (Illustrated.) 
in, — Sanitary improvement in New York 
during the last quarter of a century. By 
General Emmons Clark. 
IV. — Deportment of savage negroes. By 
Paul Reichard, 
V. — Pollen: Its development and use. By 
Joseph F, James, M. Sc. ( Illustrated. ) 
VI. — The meteoritic hypothesis. By J. El- 
lard Gore, F. R. A. S. 
VII. — Our agricultural experiment sta- 
tions. By Prof. C. L, Parsons. 
VIII. — A coming solution of the cuirency 
question. By Charles S. Ashley 
IX. — Scientific dreams of the past. By 
Albert de Rochas. 
X. — The colors of letters. By David Starr 
Jordan. 
XI. — Animal and plant lore. IV. By Mrs. 
Fanny D. Bergen (Concluded.) 
XII. — Hoffding's outlines of Psychology. 
XIII. — The quianganes of luzon. By Prof. 
F. Blumentritt, 
XIV. — On the wings of the wind. 
XV. — Sketch of George Catlin. (With 
portrait.) 
XVI. — Editor's Table:— The New Jesuit- 
ism and Social Reform, — Charity as a Fetich. 
XVII. — Literary Notices, 
XVIII. — Popular Miscellany. 
XIX. — Notes. 
The Popular Science Monthly is re- 
commended, not only as a scientific medium 
through which the better scientific advance- 
ments are communicated to those only 
interested in scientific pursuits, but to the 
general reader who would seek to be en- 
lightened by the best class of literary pro- 
ductions, so written as to be useful as well 
as entertaining. 
The Transit, a semi-annual, published by 
the State University of Iowa, is a very in- 
teresting and instructive pamphlet, contain 
ing detailed descriptions of actual experi- 
ments carried on by the engineering depart- 
