Key to North American Birds. 
At no previous period in the history of 
Ornithology have its students been so 
numerous or enthusiastic as at present. 
Various circumstances have lately brought 
the study of Birds on both sides of the 
Atlantic prominently before the general 
public. The interest thus excited, if not 
deeply rooted, is an encouragement to 
those who have made the study their life 
work, and have brought to it a scientific 
temperament which has worthil}^ gained 
for them the position of leaders and 
guides to their more humble followers. 
Among these, 2^rhnus inter pares, stands 
Dr. Elliott Coues, whose numerous and 
thoroughly reliable works have gained 
him the enviable position he now holds. 
The re-publication of his " Key,"* if 
long delayed, has come at an opportune 
moment, and serves to emphasize an era 
1 in the history of North American Orni- 
thology. It is, unfortunately, only possi- 
ble within the limits at our disposal, to 
give our readers a very inadequate idea of 
the contents of this volume. 
The " Key " retains little of the former 
I edition except the name and purpose. It 
has been entirely re- written, and contains 
a much larger number of illustrations — 
some original, and others from various 
acknowledged sources. 
^ AVe notice especially the conscientious 
care of the author to make his descrip- 
tions perfectly clear and precise, and to 
leave no loophole for a misunderstanding 
of his meaning. Not only are the Latin 
/and Greek words exactly translated, but 
*Key to Nokth American Birds. Containing a con- 
cise 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. Sec- 
ond edition, revised to date and entirely re-written, with 
j which are incorpor.-.*^^ed General Ornithology : An out- 
line of the structure and classification of Birds ; Field 
Ornithology : A manual of collecting, preparing and pre- 
serving Birds. By Elliott Coues, M. A., M, D., Ph. D., 
Member of the National Academy of Sciences, etc., etc. 
Profusely illustrated. Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 18S4, pp. 
XXX-863. 
the less common words of Latin and 
Greek origin are clearly explained. 
As the necessity for this has been fre- 
quently pointed out in this magazine, we 
refer to the matter with much pleasure, 
being convinced that the popularity of the 
work is enhanced thereby. 
The book is divided into four parts. 
Part I, pp. 1 — 58, consists of the author's 
" Field Ornitliolog}'," originally published 
as a separate treatise in 1874. It is re- 
printed nearly verhathn, but with some 
little amplification towards its end. 
Part II, pp. 59 — 236, consists of the in- 
troductory matter of the old "Key" very 
greatly amplified. It is a sort of " Closet 
Ornithology" as distinguished from a 
"Field Ornithology," teaching the princi- 
ples of the science and illustrating their 
application. 
Part III, pp. 237—820, being the main 
body of the work, describes all the spe- 
cies and sub-species of North American 
Birds known to the author, defines the 
genera, and characterizes the families and 
higher groups. The descriptions are 
much more elaborate than those of the old 
" Key " — the purpose kept steadily in 
view being the ready identification of 
specimens. Geographical distribution is 
also more fully treated, and more atten- 
tion has been paid to the descrij)tions of 
the plumages of females and young birds. 
Part IV, pp. 821 — 830, consists of a 
synopsis of the Fossil Birds of North 
America, and has, as before, been revised 
by Professor O. C. March. 
That the author has availed himself of 
the many treatises which have appeared 
since the former " Key " was written, and 
of the researches of numerous workers in 
the interval, goes without saying. 
In the present condition of scientific 
research, when so many monographs are 
published both in the magazines and as 
separate volumes, it is always well periodi- 
cally to look over the field as a whole, to 
see where we are and what real work has 
