Aces 1 
A V E S. 
BY 
A. H. Evans, M.A., F.Z.S. 
The most remarkable ornithological work which has appeared during the 
vear 1885 is, without doubt, the volume of “ The Standard Natural His- 
tory v treating of “Birds,” edited by Air. J. S. Kingsley. To this Dr. 
Stejneger is the chief contributor, and whether his opinions commend 
themselves to his fellow-ornithologists or not, all will admit that the 
breadth of view which he displays takes the book at once out of the 
category of ordinary popular works, and places it on a thoroughly scien¬ 
tific footing. The taxonomic scheme w T hich he propounds is one almost 
entirely new, that is, as regards the larger divisions of the Class Aves, and 
especially in relation to its fossil forms. When he arrives at forms which 
still exist, his plan will be seen not to vary very greatly from those which 
have been of late years set forth. A summary of his method is given 
below, and this may be found useful, since, in the book itself, no concise 
statement of the results at which he has arrived is afforded, and even the 
outline of his plan can only be gathered by a somewhat close study of the 
contents of the volume. It being no part of a Recorder’s business to 
review a work of this kind, no notice need here be taken of many matters 
that are, or at least seem, open to objection or criticism. On these the 
student must judge for himself; but it is the Recorder’s duty to point 
out that, whatever be the future of ornithological taxonomy, Dr. Stej- 
neger’s labours can be in no wise neglected by any worker on Systematic 
Ornithology. Other works of importance published during the-past year, 
so far as they relate to Geographical Areas, may be found under the 
following names. See also Beddard, Dresser, Gadow, Hargitt, Harvie- 
Brown, Newton [E. T.], Reichenow, Saunders, Sclater, Seebohm, Sharpe. 
Pal^arctic Region : Clarke & Backhouse (Iceland), Lilford 
(Britain), Olphe-Galliard (W. Europe), Tait (Portugal). 
Ethiopian : Bohm (Cent. Africa), Biittikofer (Liberia), Milne- 
Edwards & Oustalet (Grand Comore), Milne-Edwards & Grandidier 
(Madagascar), Shelley (Kilima-njaro and Somali Land). 
Indian : Blasius (Celebes), Forbes (Eastern Archipelago), Guillemard 
(Sulu Archipelago, Borneo, Sumbawa, Celebes), Kutter (Borneo), Menz- 
bier (Kashgaria, Russia), Potanin (Alongolia), Salvadori & Giglioli 
(Cochin China), Seebohm (Japan), Yorderman (Java). 
1885. [vol. sxii.] b 4 
