Recent Literature . 
ss 
1883], 
observations made during- September, 1881, at Fort Berthold, Dakota 
Territory. Fifty-seven species were identified, a fair number considering 
the season and the limited time spent in the field. The annotations are 
usually very brief, one of the longest being that relating to the Bald 
Eagle, from which we quote the following: “During the last week of 
September ‘Eagle Hunters’ of the Hidatsa and Arikaras [Indians] started 
out for the purpose of catching these birds for their tail feathers, which 
are highly prized for head ornaments and war bonnets. The price paid 
for very ordinary feathers was seventy-five cents, while good ones brought 
a dollar and frequently a dollar and fifty cents apiece. The method 
adopted in catching eagles is as follows : after selecting one of the most 
elevated points of land, a hole is dug large enough to allow the watcher 
sufficient room to turn around in. Branches, leaves, and grass, are then 
laid across the opening so as to give everything the appearance of the 
surrounding country. A live rabbit or domestic fowl is then secured by a 
thong and placed over the top of the artificial surface in which openings 
are left for the hidden observer. Should an eagle alight to secure the 
quarry, he is immediately caught by the legs and tied. Often the captives 
are taken to camp to be plucked after which they are again set at liberty.” 
A novel feature of the list is that of the Indian names which are given 
for many of the common birds. With the exception of occasional bad 
spelling of scientific names the paper is well printed. — W. B. 
Canadian Birds. — The report of the Ornithological and Oological 
Branch of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club for 1881, published in the 
“ Transactions ” of that Club, No. 3, pp. 26-34, consists of a general com- 
mentary on the bird-fauna, signed by Geo. R. White and W. L. Scott, 
and an Appendix, forming a “List of the Birds found in the vicinity of 
Ottawa City, specimens of which have been shot within the last few 
years.” The list is briefly annotated, and contains 169 species of 120 
genera and 39 families — among them Podiceps occidentalis. This is 
probably correct. But we are astounded to see in the list Ha rp o rhynch us 
cinereus! Parus rufescens! Vireo pu stilus ! Glaucidium passerinum var 
calif ornicum! This of course puts the whole affair under a cloud as an 
incompetent and doubtless pretty nearly worthless performance. — E. C. 
Cory’s Beautiful and Curious Birds. — Since our last notice * of 
this work two parts have appeared. Part IV contains plates of Pseudo- 
grypkus calif ornianus, our North American Condor; Camptolcemus lab- 
radorius , the Labrador Duck ; and Astrapia nigra, the Incomparable Bird 
of Paradise. Part V has illustrations of Epimachus magnusf the Mag- 
nificent Bird of Paradise, Epimachus ellioti , Elliot’s Bird of Paradise, and 
Pluvianus cegyptius, the interesting Crocodile Bird of the Nile. 
*This Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. 240. For earlier notices see Vol. V, p. 236; Vol. VI, pp. 
hi, 112. 
fThe above name is appended to the plate but Epimachus speciosus is used at the 
head of the accompanying text, Epimachus magnus being placed in the list of synonyms* 
