IIO Recent Literature. [April 
II 
• 
The body of the report is primarily of the nature of an ordinary “local 
list” for the State of Wisconsin, giving in systematic order 295 species; 
nor must the claims of the paper in this regard be entirely overshadowed 
by the importance of its main object. Every bird is referred to one or 
another of the several “Groups” and subgroups above mentioned. The 
“tabular summaries of economic relations,” expressed in the peculiar 
manner above noted, are given for such species in sets, according to fam- 
ilies. The report is well-written, giving in many cases extended biograph- 
ies, aside from those points which in each case of course engage the 
author’s special attention. Besides detailed results of his own observa- 
tions, statements of many other authors respecting the food of our birds 
is condensed and summarized. The numerous woodcuts are chiefly taken 
from Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway. The flavor of the author’s personality 
is appreciable, as we were sure we should find it to be, after reading in the 
preface what Prof. King has to say of his “sojourn for six months in the 
sunshine of a warm heart;” and if we had the heart to pass any ungra- 
cious criticism upon so laborious, meritorious and interesting a report, the 
printer rather than the author would be our victim. — E. C. 
Report on the Birds of Ohio.* — This long-deferred work reaches 
us at length in the form of a treatise on the ornithology of the State so 
extensive and so systematic that the time its preparation has occupied seems 
justified if not absolutely required. The inside history of the publication 
repeats that of most scientific work which struggles for existence in the 
meshes of official red-tape. It was begun in 1873, the author being given a 
year in which to complete it. In 1874, he was ready with an annotated and 
descriptive catalogue of his birds, which might have made perhaps pp. 100 
of print. This was rewritten and extended in 1875; and again, in i 877-’8, 
with addition of the synonymatic and bibliographical matter, and the 
appendix. As appears by the date of the letter of transmittal, printing 
began in November, 1879, an d continued to p. 352, January, 1880, when 
it was stopped till December, 1880, when it was resumed, with more or less 
prolonged interruptions until completed in the summer of 1881. Then 
the sheets appear to have been stored for a year or more before actual pub- 
lication, which was late in 1882. The bird-matter appears in two forms 
— as a part of the whole volume, and as a small edition of separate extras 
— the latter, however, fortunately without repagination or any alteration 
whatever. 
Though about a year and a half behindhand, and consequently without 
the finishing touches which the author’s careful attention to the progress 
of the science during that period would doubtless have led him to give had 
circumstances permitted, Dr. Wheaton’s report must at once take place at 
the head of State Faunas, so far as ornithology is concerned. It rep re - 
* Report on the Birds of Ohio. By J. M. Wheaton, M. D. Report of the Geologi- 
cal Survey of Ohio, Vol. IV, pt. i, pp. 188-628. Columbus, O. -Nevins & Myers, State 
Printers. 8vo. 1882. 
