52 
Recent Literature. 
synonyms, and brackets made use of to enclose Mr. Ridgway’s notes, much 
needless confusion would have been avoided.* Altogether, however, the 
paper is a most excellent one, and its contents supply a fund of information 
the lack of which has been long felt. — W. B. 
Jones and Shulze’s Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of 
the Birds of Ohio. — Too late for the fuller notice we may hope to 
give hereafter comes to us the first number of a very beautiful work, which 
we sincerely hope may be successfully completed according to the an- 
nounced design of the ladv authors. Part I contains figures of the nests 
and eggs of Icterus bciltimore, Turdus mustelinus, and Coccygus erythrophthal- 
mus , of life size, colored by hand, printed on Whatman’s antiquarian 
drawing-paper, and forming three of the most exquisite pictures of bird- 
homes we have ever seen. Each plate has its sheet of letterpress, which 
fitly illustrates these artistic plates. The work is to appear, if it meets 
with sufficient support, in parts of three plates each, to be completed in 
about thirty parts; it is published by subscription, at $5.00 for colored, 
and $ 2.00 for uncolored, impressions. The objects are represented of life 
size, in their natural surroundings, calling for the large folio form in which 
the work appears. To judge by the first Part, the work is one of very 
unusual merit, deserving that hearty recognition and support which we 
trust will be accorded by all who can appreciate the combination of great 
artistic excellence and fidelity to nature. The authors are to be congratu- 
lated upon their taste and evident ability ; we hope in due time to be able 
to felicitate them upon the complete success of their undertaking. — E. C. 
Adams’s Notes on the Birds of Alaska. — Some twenty-eight 
years ago (October, 1850) Mr. Edward Adams, a Surgeon in the British 
navy, and at the time only twenty-five years of age, having the post of 
Assistant- Surgeon and Naturalist on board the “ Enterprise,” in an expe- 
dition fitted out in search of Franklin, was sent to the Redoubt of Michal- 
aski, on the shores of Norton Sound, Alaska. He remained there until 
late in the following June, and made some very interesting and valuable 
notes on the birds of that region. His collections were given to the 
* We understand, however, that the author had not the opportunity of re- 
vising the proof-sheets himself. He also informs us that the following correc- 
tions should be made : — 
Page 128. 
“ 131. 
“ 133. 
“ 138. 
“ 156. 
“ 164. 
Embernagra should have the *. 
After “habitat ” add initials “ R. R.” 
Sturnclla magna should not have the asterisk ; this belongs to S. 
mexicana, on the next page. 
Myiarchus erythrocercus var. cooperi should have the *. 
After “measurements” add initials “R. R.” 
Under Herodias egretta the reference to “the preceding species” 
applies to Plegadis guarauna , not to Ardea herodias. 
