THE GENERAL SUBJECT. 
25 
cies of birds. Tbe- numerous tables of measurements and the like, 
wbicli are interspersed tliroughout the worfl call for especial 
remark ; for whatever may be thought of the author’s arguments 
(and it is here out of place to pass an opinion on them), the facts 
therein recorded speak for themselves. The following abstract of 
his results, however, slightly abbreviated from his own account 
of them in the Introduction, may be of use : — (1) the majority 
of nominal species are caused by imperfect knowledge of the ex- 
tent and character of (a) individual and (b) geographical varia- 
tion ; (2) this imperfect knowledge is due to the neglected study 
of common species ; (3) the analytic mode of study should not 
alone be pursued, but combined with the synthetic — general 
principles being sought as well as new forms; (4) nothing is 
gained by giving binomial names to climatic and other forms, 
when a complete transition from the one to the other can be 
traced in a large series of specimens. 
Such is an imperfect analysis of this important work. Into 
the special part of it it is not intended to enter. Ordinary 
species-makers will hardly accept the identifications of an orni- 
thologist of such broad views as Mr. Allen ; and the book itself 
must and will be consulted by those Avho like general prin- 
ciples. Ibis, 1873, pp. 189-190 
Brehm, A. E. Gefangene Vogel. Ein Hand- und Lehrbuch fiir 
Liebhaber und Pfleger einheimischer und fremdlandischer J 
Kafigvogel. Leipzig: 1870. ^ 
Not seen by the Recorder. 
. Bird-Life. Translated from the German by H. M. La- ) 
BOUCHERE and W. Jesse. London: 1871. 8vo. Parts ■ 
i.~iii. pp. 1-252. 
The translators^ part is performed with great care. Like most 
popular works, this is very weak in many points ; especially may 
be mentioned the essay on general distribution,^^ concerning 
which muc.h sounder information was easily within the author s 
reach. 
Collett, B. Rugecasser for vore nytlige Smaafiigle, dercs In-\ 
dretning og Beboere. Christiania : 1870. 8vo, 36 pp. 1 
Advocating the protection of small birds, and showing how . 
they may be encouraged by artificial breeding-boxes. - 
Darwin, C. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation 
to Sex. London ; 1871. Sm. 8vo, 2 vols. pp. 423,475. 
Presuming that the reader is aware of the general drift of the 
author^s argument, with which we have here nothing to do/j]ie 
part of this work relating to Birds will be found in four chapters 
(xiii.-xvi.) of the second volume (pp. 38-238), wherein the sub- 
ject of the Secondary Sexual Characters of the Class is treated 
