Jan., 1902. I 
THK CONDOR 
23 
occupies twenty-three pages, the present 
volume deals exclusively with the Fringillidte 
or Sparrow Family. There are keys to the 
genera, species and subspecies, much after the 
style of Ridgway’s “Manual,” with ])ertinent 
descriptions, statements of distribution, and 
extended synonymies of each. “The descrip- 
tions are limited to essential characters, ” and in 
the case of subspecies to brief comparative 
diagnoses, with average measurements of 
available specimens. 
The distribution of each form is stated in 
detail. Extreme localities are definitely 
named, and, if irregular, the range is ac- 
curately indicated. This feature is a most use- 
ful one to the student, and is far in advance o{ 
most previous systematic books. The time is 
past when a stated habitat like “Western 
United States,” “Mountainous regions of the 
West,” or even “Califonna,” is of any intrinsic 
value. It is to be hoped that the next A. O. U. 
check-list will follow Mr. Ridgway’s precedent. 
The most valuable part of the present work 
to the student of birds I believe to be the care- 
fully prepared synonymy accompan3dng each 
description. This serves as an index to the 
literature of a species, as well as a guide to the 
systematic worker. In most cases a hint in 
parenthesis gives an idea as to the nature of 
the article referred to, or at least as to the 
locality to which it jjertains. 
In the matter of nomenclature, the A. O. 
U. Code is followed. Strict adherence to the 
original spelling of scientific names is main- 
tained. “The correction of an author’s ortho- 
graphical errors is a pernicious practice.” 
Vernacular names, however, are not quite up 
to date in that proper possessives retain the 
superfluous “ ’s”! 
As affecting California the author has made 
a few rulings open to question. In some cases 
I believe insufficient material has led to unwar- 
ranted acceptance or rejection of forms. For 
instance, a race of the spurred towhee, Pipilo 
maculatus alratus, is distinguished, the type 
being from Pasadena. {^Pipilo maciilatits~\ 
viegalonyx was described by Baird from F'ort 
Tejon which is only sixty miles from Pasa- 
dena and in practically the same faunal area. 
Moreover I have failed to find a single sub- 
stantial character to separate a series of 
towhees from Pasadena and a series from the 
Sierras. Of the former only about one male 
out of three have the upper parts, including 
the rump, continuously black, this being the 
principal character assigned. On the other 
hand, l\Ir. Ridgway failed to recognize Pipilo 
maculalus falcifer, which has several discover- 
able characters, and which also represents a 
distinct faunal area. Pipilo fuscus carolcs is 
admitted, but does not prove well-founded. 
These points and others will all in time be 
worked out satisfactorily. Meanwhile we 
must sincerely thank Mr. Ridgway for his 
immense expenditure of time and talent in the 
preparation of this invaluable monograph. 
The succeeding parts will be awaited with 
renewed anticipation. The whole work will 
form an absolutely necessary working manual 
for all twentieth century systematic ornith- 
ologists. Joseph Grinneee. 
Stories of Bird Life. By T. Gilbert 
Pearson. With illustrations by and under the 
supervision of Jno. L. Ridgway, pp. 236. 
This is a popular work of 20 chapters given 
over to breezy narratives, and is in all respects 
a thoroughly model bird book, reflecting the 
varied experiences of the author’s many years 
afield. The work is intended largely as a 
text-book for intermediate grades in schools 
but is nevertheless one of the most meritorious 
popular works which has appeared. It pos- 
sesses a delight in that rhapsodic sentiment is 
lacking and the experiences of Mr. Pearson 
are given in a peculiarly interesting vein. 
After all, our writers have found nothing so 
productive of appreciation as the plain truth, 
simplj’ told, which permits the beginner to 
evolve healthy conclusions. 
Each chapter of the book treats of some in- 
dividual species or else of some group amid its 
natural surroundings. Thus the opening 
chapter deals with “The Arredondo Sparrow 
Hawks,” which for years established them- 
selves in a certain grove and came to be fami- 
liarly known to the author. Charming indeed 
is “The Childhood of Bib-Neck,” a chapter de- 
voted to the early life of one of a brood of 
Wilson plover, which underwent a precarious 
infancy in the midst of preying hawks, pirati- 
cal gulls and the omnipresent gunner along the 
ocean shore. 
“An Old Barred Owl” is a chapter cleverly 
portraying the craftiness of a “swamp owl” 
who made frequent visits to the various farm- 
yards, only to be outwitted later by the inexo- 
rable grip of a steel trap, while his mate like- 
wise fell prey to a “figure-four’’ box and was 
summarily executed by an irate farmer. Each 
chapter of the book is peculiarly well rounded 
out. The plates by Mr. Ridgway are excellent 
while the numerous text figures leud much to 
the attractiveness of the volume. B. F. John- 
son Publishing Co., Richmond, Va. Price 60 
cents, postpaid. — C. B. 
Birds of Song & Story by Elizabeth and 
Joseph Grinnell is a popular bird book of 150 
pages, illustrated by numerous color-type 
plates of mounted birds. The text is by Mrs. 
Grinnell who deals with a number of our best 
known birds in her usual charming manner, 
and the work should appeal to those who love 
popular bird literature. A. W. Mumford, 
Chicago. 
