Recent Literature. 
45 
third instalment consists of a selection of titles belonging to the “system- 
atic” department of the general “Bibliography of Ornithology.” Its 
exact scope and arrangement the author thus explains : “In this [system- 
atic] department come the titles of all publications treating of particular 
species, genera, or families of Birds, systematically arranged by Families , 
in chronological order under each family, with alphabetization of authors’ 
names under each date. The lot of titles herewith presented, however, 
are only those that relate to American species. Of those families which 
are exclusively American, as, for example, Mniotiltidce , Icteridce, Tana- 
gridce , Trochilidce , etc., I give, of course, all the titles in my possession; 
but of those families which are more cosmopolitan, as the Turdidce or 
Fringillidce, I select only the titles relating to American species; and of 
extra-limital families no titles whatever are given. Such is the ostensible 
scope of the present instalment; but I actually give many titles relating 
to extra-limital species, when the close relationship of such species makes 
it desirable, or when the insertion of a few such additional titles enables 
me to present all that I possess of certain families.” 
The author further states : “The three instalments together represent 
a nearly complete Bibliography of Ornithology so far as America is con- 
cerned. They are published in this manner in advance of the whole 
work for several reasons — among others, both to render immediately 
available certain departments of the Bibliography which are practically 
completed, and to invite criticisms and suggestions for the bettering of 
the work. ... In only one particular would I deprecate criticism at 
present — and this is respecting the arrangement of the titles ; for the 
scheme of the work cannot be fairly appreciated until the whole is pub- 
lished, including the several contemplated Indexes.” The author states 
that it is not his intention to print any more of the work at present, the 
American departments being the only ones sufficiently perfected to war- 
rant their leaving his hands, but meanwhile he is preparing manuscript 
for the rest “as rapidly and as continuously as possible.” * 
In respect to the grouping of the species and genera of the Passeres 
into families, it is almost to be regretted that the author decided to follow 
the quite unnatural and now antiquated arrangement of Gray’s “Hand- 
list of Birds.” The reasons for this procedure are stated to be the abso- 
lute necessity for “some fixed standard ” for this grouping, and the indefi- 
nate limitations of the families in this order, and Gray’s system being a 
well-known one has been selected. The other families present fewer 
difficulties, “being sufficiently nearly agreed upon by ornithlogists.” For 
the Passerine families “ the titles have been assorted strictly and 
exactly according to the composition amd sequence of those groups” in 
the Grayian system. 
In reference to the character of the work, it is enough to say that it is 
fully up to the high standard of excellence of the previous instalments 
* Subsequently to this decision, however, and while the “ Third Instalment” was 
passing through the press, the author so far departed from the plan here announced as 
to print a “Fourth Instalment,” presently to be noticed. 
