Coues's Key to North American Birds, Second Edition.* — The twelve 
years which have passed since the publication of the first edition of the 
'Key' have been marked by unprecedented activity and progress in North 
American ornithology — sufficient, indeed, to render antiquated any text- 
book on our birds, however well up to date in the year 1872, In prepar- 
ing the second edition of the 'Key,' the author has not only attempted to 
bring the work abreast of the present phase of the subject, but has taken 
the opportunity to remedy the defects of the first, and to greatly enlarge 
the scope of the work by the addition of much new material, covering 
branches of the subject wholly omitted in the old 'Key.' While in bulk 
the book seems scarcely larger than the one that has so long been a 
familiar and useful companion alike to the amateur and the professional 
ornithologist, it contains more than twice as many pages, and probably 
four times more matter, in consequence of the use of smaller type and 
thinner paper. Nearly 350 new illustrations have been added, a few of 
them replacing old ones now discarded. About fifty — drawn by Mr. 
Edwin Sheppard and engraved by Mr. H. H. Nichols — have been prepared 
expressly for the present edition, besides some thirty or more original 
anatomical drawings, made by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, U. S. A., and many 
cuts borrowed from various duly accredited sources. 
The work, as it now stands, is divided into four 'Parts,' as follows : 
'Part I. Field Ornithology.' This is a reprint, with slight modifications 
and the addition of a few illustrations, of the author's well-known work of 
this title originally published in 1874. 'Part II. General Ornithology.' 
This is the introductory matter of the old 'Key' greatly amplified and 
with many new illustrations, but especially through the addition of 
nearly 100 pages of entirely new matter on the anatomy of birds. 'Part 
III. Systematic Synopsis of North American Birds.' This is the 'Syste- 
matic Synopsis' of the old 'Key' greatly augmented through much fuller 
treatment of the subject, the diagnoses of the various forms treated being 
much extended, and to which is added a concise epitome of the biography 
of each. 'Part IV. Systematic Synopsis of the Fossil Birds of North 
America.' This is the 'Appendix,' of the old 'Key' brought down to date. 
As before, it has been revised by Professor O. C. Marsh. The number of 
species and varieties of living birds now admitted is about 900; of fossil 
species, 46. 
Part II, the author characterizes as "a sort of 'Closet Ornithology ' as 
distinguished from a 'Field Ornithology' ; being a treatise on the classifica- 
tion and structure of birds, explaining and defining the technical terms 
used in ornithology, — in short, teaching the principles of the science and 
* Key to North American Birds. Containing a concise account of every species of 
living and fossil bird at present known from the Continent north of the Mexican and 
United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland. Second Edition, revised to date, and 
entirely rewritten : with which arc incorporated General Ornithology : an outline of the 
structure and classification of birds, and Field Ornithology : a Manual of collecting, 
preparing, and preserving birds. By Elliott Coues, M. A., M. D., Ph. D., Member 
of the National Academy of Sciences, etc., etc. Profusely illustrated. Boston : 
Estes & Lauriat, 1884. Royal 8vo. pp. xxx -f- 863, i col. pi., and 56 3 woodcuts. 
