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 Book News and Reviews 125 Catalogue of Canadian Birds. Part I. Water Birds, Gallinaceous Birds, and Pigeons. By John Macoun, Natura- list to the Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa. 1900. Pages viii + 2i3. The author of this important work states that he "he has endeavored to bring together facts on the range and nest- ing habits of all the birds known to reside in, migrate to, or visit, the northern part of the continent. In addition to the Dominion of Canada, he has therefore included Newfoundland, Greenland and Alaska." To original information gathered during the past twenty years in explora- tions which have taken him from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and that secured by Mr. W. Spreadborough, who, since 1889, has been at work under his supervi" sion, he adds data from MS. notes of various duly accredited observers, and those which have already been recorded by the more authoritative writers on the birds of the great region embraced by his limits. In this compilation two important papers have apparently been overlooked, viz.; Blakiston's 'On the Birds of the Interior of British America' (Ibis, 1863, p. 39 et seq), a fully annotated list of 250 species, and Merriam's ' List of Birds Ascertained to Occur Within Ten Miles of Point des Monts, Province of Quebec' (Bull., N. O. C. VII, 1882, p. 233 ct scq), a list of 180 species. The annotations under each species consist of remarks on its general range and notes on the breeding of species known to nest, with, in every instance, the authority for all statements not based on personal observation, and a list of museum specimens with data. The book is. therefore, an invaluable reference manual for those in search of information in regard to the birds of northern North America, and we note with pleasure that the second and concluding part is prom- ised for an early date. — F. M. C. A Monograph of the Flicker. By Frank L. Burns. Wilson Bulletin No. 31. Oberlin, Ohio, April, 1900. Pages 82. To know that you have in your hand all the more important facts concerning the life-history of a common bird affords one a sense of satisfaction which can be appreciated only by those who, in search of information concerning the habits of some familiar species, have been obliged to wade through a library. For five years Mr. Burns has devoted his available time to securing the information presented in this monograph. Correspondence with other ornithologists, whose assistance is fully acknowledged, search in the literature of ornithology, and personal observation in the field, have resulted in making what, as far as we know, is the most complete existing biography of any North American bird. Beginning with its scientific and vernacular names (of which the astonishing number of 124 are listed) the author treats his subject under the headings : ' Geograph- ical Range,' 'Winter Range,' 'Breeding Range,' 'Migration,' 'Flight,' 'Roosting,' 'Drum Calls,' ' Voice, ' 'Mating,' ' Nidifi- cation,' 'Eggs,' 'Incubation,' 'Young,' 'Molt and Renewal,' 'Food,' 'Enemies,' 'Measurements,' 'Plumage,' 'Hybridism,' 'Atavism,' 'Conclusion.' It is not possible for us to go into details, but we cannot conclude this brief notice without congratulating Mr. Burns on the excellence of his work, and thoroughly commending his method of presentation. When our bookshelves contain a row of biographies on our birds, similar to this one, we may consider ourselves well equipped to further elucidate the prob- lems which such a close study is sure to present, and we would strongly urge every ambitious ornithologist who is undecided into what channel to turn his efforts, to concentrate them on a single species, and in due time the science he loves may be as deeply indebted to him as it is to Mr. Burns.— F. M. C. The Avifauna of Louisiana. By Geo E. Beyer. Reprint from the Proc. of the Louisiana Society of Naturalists, 1897- 1899 8vo, pp. 1-45. This is an exceedingly welcome contri- bution to the faunal literature of a state concerning the bird-life of which we possess very little published information. Professor Beyer has been obliged to rely