184 
rOPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
of the miscellaneous publications of Dr. Hayden’s Survey. — This first part, 
which contains the descriptions of the Passerine birds from the thrushes to 
the shrikes (including warblers, tits, creepers and wrens, larks, wagtails, 
tanagers, swallows, waxwings and greenlets) occupies 565 pages, so that it 
will easily be understood that the subject is treated in some detail ; in fact, 
the feelings suggested to the British zoologist by the contemplation of such 
a book have a slight tinge of envy in them, seeing that he can never hope to 
get an opportunity of displaying to such advantage the results of his labours. 
Dr. Coues gives a detailed synonymy of each species, followed by a Latin 
diagnosis and a description in English, and then indicates the general 
natural history of the bird, and indulges in any critical remarks that may 
occur to him. The latter are often of considerable importance both with 
regard to genera and species. He also adds in many cases notices of other 
American species nearly allied to those inhabiting the district to which his 
work specially relates, and sometimes even tabulates all the species of a 
genus, a plan the adoption of which is very useful in works on local natural 
history. The illustrations (seventy in number) consist of woodcuts generally 
of heads and other important parts, and although not remarkable as works 
of art, are generally sufficiently characteristic. 
Curiously enough, we find Dr. Coues reviving the old question as to the 
hibernation of swallows which we had thought had been set at rest long ago. 
He does not indeed affirm his positive belief in their passing the winter, as 
alleged, buried in mud at the bottom of ponds and rivers, but he declares 
that the occurrence of this phenomenon rests on as good evidence as many 
other things which are accepted as facts in natural history, and that his mind, 
at any rate, is open to conviction. He says, “ I see no reason why a swallow 
should not stay awhile in the mud in a state of suspended animation, or 
greatly lowered degree of vital activity. The thing is physically and physio- 
logically feasible ; it is in strict analogy with observed phenomena in the cases 
of many other animals ; and it is not more marvellous than catalepsy, trance, 
and several other conditions of life, the rationale of which is still obscure.’’ 
The point from which the a piori argument against the hibernation of 
swallows in mud starts is, however, precisely the conviction that such a 
phenomenon is not “ physiologically feasible”; and even Dr. Coues himself 
adverts specially to the difficulty of explaining “the suddenness of the 
alleged transition from a high state of animation to a degree of lethargy, and 
the abruptness with which the activity of the vital functions is said to be 
arrested.” Ilis supposed analogy drawn from the swifts is really, when we 
come to consider it, no analogy at all ; and we do not actually know of any 
bird that has been proved to hibernate, hibernation being in reality (a priori 
at any rate) incompatible with the physiological constitution of birds. It 
must be confessed, however, that in reviving this question, Dr. Coues has 
done all in his power to furnish the means for its solution, in the shape of an 
elaborate bibliography of the subject extending over nearly a dozen pages. 
Ornithological 1 ibliography must, indeed, occupy a considerable portion of 
Dr. Coues’ attention, for besides the piece above alluded to, we find close by 
Ornithology.” By Elliott Coues. Part I. 8vo. Washington : Government 
Printing Office, 1878. 
