Recent Literature . 
113 
with some general observations suggested by the writer’s experience. It 
is a very good piece of work, based in greatest part on original personal 
observations, very carefully elaborated, with attention not only to the ma- 
terial facts presented, but to those niceties of workmanship which are too 
often neglected. There are a few slips, in spite of the author’s evident 
pains, such as cedon for aedon , and Vireosylvia gilvus for gilva. The chief 
fault we have to find with the List is that it is repaged in the separate 
pamphlet issues. This troublesome, unnecessary, and inexcusable practice 
should stop ; it is a relic of barbarism, an anachronism which has obvious 
disadvantages without any couQterbalancing recommendation. We are 
glad to see, especially among our younger writers on ornithology, evidence 
of increased attention to details of execution. Those who are satisfied to 
say what they have to say, without regard to how they say it, may be re- 
minded that the form as well as the substance of their communications to 
the public is essential to successful authorship ; and that an article may be 
made a contribution to letters as well as to science. It is even worth while 
to spell correctly. — E. C. 
A Woman’s Work as a Naturalist.* — Among the many wonder- 
ful “ exhibits ” at the recent Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, 
few things attracted such general attention, or created more surprise, 
among visitors of every grade of intelligence, than Mrs. M. A. Maxwell’s 
collection of the animals of Colorado. This collection formed a part of 
her “ Museum ” at Boulder, Colorado, from which it was selected, under a 
commission from the State authorities, to represent the Fauna of the moun- 
tains and plains of that enterprising State. This selection embraced over 
one hundred mammals and nearly four hundred birds, most ingeniously 
and effectively arranged in artistic groups on a miniature landscape. The 
objects represented ranged in size from Humming-Birds to the largest 
mammals of the Colorado mountains and plains, — the gigantic elk and 
bison, — and were all mounted in the highest style of the taxidermist’s 
art. This exhibit was not only unique and effective in execution and 
arrangement, but was a startling revelation of what a woman can do in 
one of the most difficult fields of art, for not only were all these objects 
prepared by Mrs. Maxwell, but all were procured by her, a large part of 
them having been taken by her own hands. But Mrs. Maxwell is some- 
thing more than a successful and enthusiastic taxidermist ; she is an ardent 
and thorough student of nature, and her explorations of the zoology of 
Colorado have revealed the existence of many species in that State not 
previously known to occur there, and contributed many new facts regard- 
ing the habits and distribution of others. The little book before us, de- 
voted mainly to a very intelligent and pleasantly written account of how 
* On the Plains and among the Peaks ; or, How Mrs. Maxwell made her 
Natural History Collection. By Mary Dartt. Philadelphia : Claxton, Remsen, 
and Hoffelfinger, 624, 626, 628 Market Street, 1879. 8vo. pp. 237. 
VOL. IV. 8 
