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A GUIDE TO THE Bums or New ENGLAND AND EASTERN New You. containing a key for each season and short descriptions of over two hundred and finy species, with particular reference to their appearance in the field. By RALPH HOFFMANN, member of the American Ornithologists' Union. With four full—page plates by Louis AGASSIZ FUERTES, and nearly one hun- dred cuts in the text. Boston and New York: Hotlghtan, Miinn 8: Co. The Riverside Press,Cambridge. rgoa. tzmo.
xiii + 3,7 pages.
So many books designed to aid beginners in identifying the birds of the northeastern United States have appeared in the last fif- teen years that, before opening this netv ‘ Guide,’ one might well be pardoned for believing it superfluous. A glance through its pages, however, will be enough to con- vince one that this is not the case.
This work treats of practically all the species of New England birds exclusive of accidental visitants and very rare, irregular stragglers. Short introductory chapters are given on ‘ Birds and their Seasons,’ ‘Mi- gration,‘ ‘Distrihution’ (accompanied by a map of the region covered, showing the life zones), “Hints for Field Work' and ‘How to Use the Keys.' In the latter the number of possibil is narrowed by giv- ing separate keys for winter, summer and autumn, and one for each of the spring months.
In the body of the book we find family headings, under which are summarized the distribution and abundance of the species and the prominent family characteristics. The order now usually followed is reversed, this book beginning with the Thrushes and ending with the Grebes.
An average of about a page is devoted to each species. Following the description of the bird‘s plumage. the nest and eggs are briefly described. The first large type para— graph gives the status oi the species in the region covered,—il£ abundance, distribu- tiun. time of occurrence and haunts. The notes. habits and appearance of the bird in the field are then described, with the one object of identification in view. Mention is
made of all species which might be mis- taken by the beginner for the one under consideration, and the differences between them are fully discussed. This is the pan of the work which will be of greatest assistance to the student. Frequent cross-references facilitate efforts at identification.
The book is illustrated by four full-page plates by Fuertes and numerous cuts in the text, most of them showing the head or head and forepartcf body. An appendix gives ‘Lists of birds breeding in the three life zones of New England and eastern New York,‘ and a list of books of reference.
It is our opinion that for beginners in the restricted region covered by this book it will prove to be the most helpful of any manual yet published for the identification of birds in the field.—W. DE W. M.
Buy PATHFINDER TO THE Blkos: A Pocket Guide to One Hundred and Ten Land Birds of New England, with Blank Page. for Notes. By HARRIET E. RICHARDS and EMMA G. CUMMINGS, members of American Ornithologists’ Union. Illus— trated. W. A. Butterfield, Publisher, 59 Bromfield St., Boston, Mass. 19:24. t25 leaves. 2); x4}§ inches.
The object and scope of this tiny booklet are described in the following extract from the preface: "This little guide has been prepared primarily for New England, but should be of service in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Birds of prey, game— and water~birds are not included. The descriptions are based on the general appearance of adult birds as seen in the field. The small size and blank pages for notes commend the book for use out-of- doors, to be supplemented at home with reference to more elaborate works.”
One hundred and ten of the commoner New England land-birds, from the Cuckoos to the Thrushes. are described. Each species occupies a page, the reverse side of the leaf being left blank for field notes. The larger families are preceded by a few remarks on the family characteristics.
Description of plumage is followed by
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