Coues' American Birds

Abstract

THIS by no means small volume is intended to give concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary. The reputation of the author, who is so well known by his works on the sea-birds, and for the anatomy of the loon, cannot but be increased by this production, which illustrates on every page the extent of his general information, and the soundness of his judgment. The subject is treated in a manner rather different from that usually adopted by systematic ornithologists; less stress is laid on specific peculiarities, and more on the elucidation of the characteristics of the genera, families, and orders. There is a freshness and boldness in the manner in which the facts are handled, which will be extremely acceptable to those who look upon ornithology as a branch of natural history rather than an all-absorbing study of itself. We know of no work of the size which gives such a fair and reliable description of the reasons that have led to the limitation of the ranges of the larger divisions which now obtain, and their inefficiency is in many cases rendered but too evident. The introduction, occupying nearly seventy pages, incorporates much of the work of the illustrious Nitzsch, which is daily becoming more fully appreciated, through neglected so long. We are surprised to find that the labaurs of Mr. Macgillivray have not been here done equal justice to, for there cannot be a doubt that the peculiarities of the viscera are of as great importance in the classification of birds, and yet they are scarcely mentioned; in, one instance we find it incorrectly stated that the cæca of the Cathartida are very small, the term must be here understood in its extreme sense, as they are absent altogether.