164 
Recent Literature. 
[July 
author. Meanwhile we can get along very well with Dr. Coues’s excel- 
lent little treatise. 
Before concluding, courtesy demands a second reference to the ostensible 
author of “New England Bird Life.” Seeing what any one with eyes may 
see, we can only repeat our former comment, that Mr. Stearns is to be 
congratulated on his choice of an editor. — W. B. 
Everett Smith’s Catalogue of Maine Birds*. — This catalogue 
is probably the most extended, if not the most important ornithological 
paper ever published by “Forest and Stream.” Beginning in the issue 
of that journal for December 28, 1882, it has appeared by instalments, 
averaging about a page each, in all the consecutive numbers but two up 
to that for April 26, 1883, with which it was completed. Its scope and 
plan are thus briefly defined by the author in his introduction : “Although 
this catalogue is intended to be merely a popular list of the birds of 
Maine, I have endeavored to make it of scientific accuracy. Authorities 
or references are named for such notes as are not within the personal 
observation or corroboration of the writer.” 
The system of scientific nomenclature adopted is a curious one. 
Influenced by the unfortunate but incontestable fact that “no defined 
rules are adhered to by American ornithologists,” and that “there is no 
exclusive authority for reference in regard to the scientific names of our 
birds,” Mr. Smith hit upon the novel expedient of giving for each 
species the names that have been used by what he considers the “three 
foremost authorities” on North American birds; viz., Audubon, Ridgway, 
and Coues ; their respective works referred to being the “Birds of North 
America,” “Nomenclature of North American Birds,” and the “Coues 
Check List and Ornithological Dictionary,” 1882. This plan, so lar 
as we are aware, is original. Its general adoption can scarcely be 
recommended but, in view of the present unsettled condition of our 
nomenclature, it is probably a useful feature in a paper of the intended 
popular character of the present catalogue. 
In the list proper Mr. Smith has followed the plan usual in faunal 
papers. The character of the presence of each species is indicated; its 
local distribution over the state mapped out ; and its average time of ar- 
rival, if a migratory visitor, noted. In addition, a short account of 
its habits is usually given. With the land birds, however, these 
annotations are seldom extended, and it is noticeable that the 
nesting, eggs, etc., of all but the commoner species are very briefly 
treated. Such brevity was not unwise if we may judge the author’s gen- 
eral knowledge in this department by some of his present statements. 
Of the many instances that might be selected we have room for only 
the following : viz., that the eggs and habits of the Winter Wren “are 
* The Birds of Maine. With annotations of their comparative abundance, dates 
of migration, breeding habits, etc. By Everett Smith. Forestand Stream, Vol. XIX, 
Nos. 22-26; Vol. XX, Nos. 1-7 and 10-13. 
