I lO 
Recent Literature. 
(April 
The body of the report is primarily of the nature of an ordinaiy local 
list” for the State of Wisconsin, giving in systematic order 295 species, 
nor must the claims of the paper in this regard be entirely overshadowed 
by the importance of its main object. Every bird is referred to one 01 
another of the several “Groups” and subgroups above mentioned. The 
“tabular summaries of economic relations,” expressed in the peculiar 
manner above noted, are given for such species in sets, according to fam¬ 
ilies. . The report is well-written, giving in many cases extended biograph¬ 
ies, aside from those points which in each case of course engage the 
author’s special attention. Besides detailed results of his own observa¬ 
tions, statements of many other authors respecting the food of our birds 
is condensed and summarized. The numerous woodcuts are chiefly taken 
from Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway. The flavor of the author’s personality 
is appreciable, as we were sure we should And it to be, after reading in the 
preface what Prof. King has to say of his “sojourn for six months in the 
sunshine of a warm heart;” and if we had the heart to pass any ungra¬ 
cious criticism upon so laborious, meritorious and interesting a report, the 
printer rather than the author would be our victim.—E. C. 
Buii. 3,ApiI. -.ttSS.p, / 07 -/ yO . 
Report on the Birds of Ohio.* — This long-deferred work reaches 
us alOength in the form of a treatise on the ornithology of the State so 
extens^e and so systematic that the time its preparation has occupied seems 
justifled itvmot absolutely required. The inside history of the publication 
repeats thatS^ most scientific work which struggles for existence in the 
meshes of oflicbsd red-tape. It was begun in 1873, the author being given a 
year in which to osmplete it. In 1874, he was ready with jua^nnotated and 
descriptive cataloguXof his birds, which might have ma^ perhaps pp. 100 
of print. This was rewritten and extended in 1875; amd again, in i877-’8, 
with addition of the sy^nymatic and bibliographical matter, and the 
appendix. As appears by the date of the letter of transmittal, printing 
began in November, 1879, anfl continued tq^p. 352, January, 1S80, when 
it was stopped till December, 18^ when hXvas resumed, with more or less 
prolonged interruptions until con’i^ejecl in the summer of 18S1. Then 
the sheets appear to have been storecRfpr a year or more before actual pub¬ 
lication, which was late in 1882. .-The\ird-matter appears in two forms 
— as a part of the whole volume, and as a Wiall edition of separate extras 
— the latter, however, fortunately without re^a^ination or anv alteration 
whatever. \ 
Though about a year and a half behindhand, and^^^consequently without 
the finishing touches which the author’s careful attemion to the progress 
of the science during that period would doubtless have 1^ him to give had 
circumstances permitted. Dr. Wheaton’s report must at ohqe take place at 
the head of State Faunas, so far as ornithology is concernbfl. It repre- 
* Report on the Birds of Ohio. By J. M. Wheaton. M. D. Report of the^eoloo-i- 
cal Survey of Ohio, Vol. IV, pt. i, pp. 188-628. Columbus, O. Nevins & Myers, Nitate 
Printers. 8vo. 1882. 
