176 
Recent Literature. 
zoologists of England, and addressed to Dr. Cones as a testimonial not 
only to the value and importance of the work he has undertaken, but of 
their appreciation of the thoroughness of its execution, and of his fitness 
for the gigantic task he has undertaken. Besides being one of the finest 
compliments ever paid to an American scientist, it is an appeal to the 
“ powers that be ” for a recognition from our government of the importance 
of the work Dr. Coues is doing for the science of ornithology, with the 
hope that he msy be afforded every necessary facility for the completion 
of the work under the most favorable circumstances. Furthermore, it is 
agreeable and conclusive proof that English naturalists are ever prompt to 
recognize American ones, and to extend to them a friendly, helping hand ; 
and on this account cannot fail to be a gratification to American natural- 
ists in general, as well as to American ornithologists. 
In heartily seconding this appeal to the Surgeon-General of the United 
States Army, and to our government, we feel that we merely reflect the 
sentiment of all American ornithologists, as we but echo that of the 
memorialists, when we say that, aside from the great boon the completion 
of the work would confer upon working ornithologists the world over, it 
would redound greatly to the credit of our government, which has already 
an enviable reputation for the aid it has given science, if it could be com- 
pleted under its auspices, since without its aid the completion of the work 
cannot probably be soon accomplished. — J. A. A. 
“ Memorial. 
“To Elliott Coues, Esquire, Assistant Surgeon, United States’ Army. 
“ We, the undersigned, beg leave to express our high appreciation of the 
‘Bibliographical Appendix’ to your work, ‘Birds of the Colorado Val- 
ley,’ being No. 11 of the Miscellaneous Publications of the United States 
Geological Survey of the Territories, under the charge of Dr. Hayden. 
And at the same time we wish to place on record our gratitude to that 
gentleman, and to the authorities of the Department to which you are 
attached, for the liberality they have shown in granting you permission to 
stay at Washington for the completion of this and other important works 
upon which you Lave now been so long and so usefully engaged. 
“ The want of indexes to the ever increasing mass of Zoological literature 
has long been felt by all workers in every department of that science ; but 
the enormous labor of compilation has hitherto deterred many from under- 
taking a task so appalling. It is with no small satisfaction that we recog- 
nize your readiness to devote yourself to work of this nature. Moreover, 
we feel justified in hoping that should the instalment now published in the 
volume above named be enlarged in a similar manner so as to include a 
complete Bibliography of Ornithology, this branch of science will possess 
an index to its writings perhaps more complete as to its scope and con- 
tents than any kindred subject of similar extent. 
