[Illustration: Book Review]
New Books and other publications will be reviewed in this department.
Authors wishing publications reviewed should send them to the Editor,
who will examine them personally and give them due consideration.
“A. O. U. Check-list of American Birds.” This book was prepared by a
committee appointed by the Union, namely, Elliott Coues, J. A. Allen,
Robert Ridgway, William Brewster, and H. W. Henshaw. This is the second
and revised edition, the original edition was published in 1885. The new
edition includes numerous additions and nomenclatural changes made since
the publication of the first, together with a revision of the “habitats”
of the species and sub-species, but omitting the Code of Nomenclature,
which was published separately in 1892. It is expected that the new
Check-list will remain without another edition for at least ten years.
It should be in the hands of every ornithologist.
“The Popular Science News” for January is much improved and enlarged.
This magazine fills a special field; it seems that it is intended more
for the general reader than the specialist, yet neither can afford to be
without it. Probably there is no paper in America that is doing more to
popularize science and to interest the general public in scientific
knowledge, than this journal. We do not hesitate to recommend it to any
one who desires to keep abreast with the discoveries and news in the
scientific world.
The December, 1895, issue of the “Nidologist” shows a marked improvement
by way of illustrations. Among the features above par, the elegant
design on the cover presents itself. The view of Heligoland, “the
magnetic pole of the bird world,” is of consummate interest. Last, but
not of the least value, is the half-tone of the brethren at the A. O. U.
Congress at Washington; this illustration alone is worth a year’s
subscription.
“The American Zoologist and Journal of Science” made its appearance with
the new year. The first issue of Vol. 1, contains thirty-six pages of
very interesting and instructive reading matter. It is edited by J.
Hobart Egbert of Holyoke, Mass.
Publications Received.
Barrows, Walter B., and E. A. Schwarz. “The Common Crow of the United
States.” Bull. No. 6, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1895, pp. 1-98, 1 pl.
2 figs.
Beal, F. E. L. “The Crow Blackbirds and Their Food.” Reprinted from the
Yearbook of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture for 1894. Pp. 233-248, figs.
1.
Beal, F. E. L. “Preliminary Report on the Food of Woodpeckers.” Bull.
No. 7, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1895, pp. 1-33, 1 pl., 3 figs.
Burns, Frank L. “The American Crow, (Corvus americanus) with special
reference to its nest and eggs.” Bull. No. 5, Wilson’s Orn. Chap, of
Agassiz Assn., 1895, pp. 1-41.
Fisher, A. K. “Hawks and Owls from the Standpoint of the Farmer.”
Reprinted from the Yearbook of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture for 1894.
Pp. 215-232, pl. 3, figs. 3.
Jones, Lynds. “Minotiltidae.” Bull. No. 4, Wilson Orni. Chap. of Agassiz
Assn., 1895, pp. 1-22.
Lucas, F. A. “The Tongues of Woodpeckers.” Bull. No. 7, U. S. Dept. of
Agriculture, 1895. Pp. 35-41, pl. 3.
“The A. O. U. Check-list of North American Birds.” Second and revised
edition. Issued by the American Ornithologists’ Union, 1895. Pp. 1-372,
I-XII, 8vo, cloth.
“The Nidologist.” Vol. 3, No. 4. Dec. 1895.
“Popular Science News.” Vol. 30, No. 1. January, 1896.
“The Oologist,” Vol. 12, No. 12. December, 1895.
“Oregon Naturalist.” Vol. 3, No. 1. January, 1896.
“Gameland.” Vol. 8, No. 1. December, 1895.
“The American Zoologist and Home Journal of Science.” Vol. 1, No. 1.
“Game and Shooting.” Vol. 1, No. 11.
“The Linnean Fern Bulletin.” Vol. 4, No. 1, January 1896.
For the lack of space, we cannot give further mention of publications
received. In our next issue we shall give more space to this department.