for any sudden noise, like the splash of a paddle in the water or the rapping of its handle against the boat, was sure to be instantly followed by a piercing kur-r-ee-ow', kurr-r-ee-ow', kurr-ee-ow', kr-ow, kr-ow, from the nearest thicket; or perhaps several would cry out at once as Rails will do on similar occasions. For the most part the birds kept closely hidden but at length we discovered one feeding on the shore. His motions were precisely similar to those of a Rail, as he skirted the oozy brink, lifting and putting down his feet with careful deliberation. Occasionally he detected and seized a snail, which was quickly swallowed, the motion being invariably accompanied by a comical side shake of the bill, apparently expressive of satisfaction, though it was perhaps designed to remove any particles of mud that may have adhered to his unique food. Finally he spied us and walked up the inclined trunk of a fallen tree to its shattered end where he stood for a moment tilting his body and jerking up his tail. Then he uttered a hoarse rattling cry like the gasp of a person being strangled, at the same time shaking his head so violently that his neck seemed in imminent danger of dislocation. Just as we were nearly within gun-range he took wing, with a shriek that might have been heard for half-a-mile. His flight was nearly like a Heron's, the wings being moved slowly and occasionally held motionless during intervals of sailing.

Shortly afterwards another, his mate probably, was detected under a palmetto leaf near at hand. In the shadow her form was dimly outlined and she stood perfectly motionless, evidently relying upon concealment for protection, but her quick eye took in every suspicious movement and at length, conscious that she was seen, she ran rapidly for a few paces and launched into the air, following the course taken by the first. Her fate was, however, sealed and the plunge of her heavy body in the water succeeded the report of the gun. Carefully laying her on a thwart in the boat we paused to admire the soft brown plumage, spotted with white and glossed with iridescent green. The light was fading in her beautiful hazel eyes and bead-like drops of water rolled from her ruffled breast. She was exceedingly heavy and muscular and upon spreading her wings I was surprised at their great breadth.

The preceding account will, I trust, illustrate one phase of the Courlan's nature. But I cannot hope to do full justice to the sub

ject within the limits of the present paper, for his character is a many-sided one. He is perfectly at home in the tops of the tallest trees where he walks among the twigs with all the ease of a Heron or stands motionless on some horizontal branch with one leg drawn up and the curved bill resting on his breast. These elevated perches are generally resorted to at daybreak. The people told us that when the country was first settled the "Limpkins," as they are called from their peculiar halting gait, were so tame that they could frequently be caught on their nests, but incessant persecution has had the usual result and they are now at all times among the most wary of birds.

But our morning had passed into noon. The sun poured down its scorching rays, the birds sought a deeper shade among the thickets, and quiet succeeded the former bustle and activity. A distant whistle caused us to hurry back into the river and as we passed out under the vines the steamer appeared around a bend below, puffing desperately as she struggled against the current. At her approach the Coots scurryed off over the lonely pool; the Osprey hurriedly launched out from her nest and the startled Herons disappeared over the tree-tops. The charm of the place was gone.

Recent Literature.

COUES'S THIRD INSTALMENT OF AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY.*—The present instalment of Dr. Coues's "American Ornithological Bibliography" is by far the largest of the three, embracing upward of 500 pages, and completes his "Bibliography of Ornithology so far as America is concerned." The first instalment appeared in 1878, as an "Appendix" of 218 pages to this author's "Birds of the Colorado Valley" (see this Bulletin, Vol. IV, pp. 56, 57), and gave the titles of "Faunal Publications" relating to North America. The second instalment (about 100 pages) was published September, 1879, in the "Bulletin of the U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories" (Vol. V, pp. 239– 330), and embraced the titles of "Faunal publications" relating to the rest of America (noticed in this Bulletin, Vol. V, p. 40). The present

* Third Instalment of American Ornithological Bibliography. By Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A. Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. of the Territories, Vol. V, No. 4, 1879, pp. 521-1066. Published "Sept. 30, 1880."

third instalment consists of a selection of titles belonging to the "systematic" department of the general "Bibliography of Ornithology." Its exact scope and arrangement the author thus explains: "In this [systematic] department come the titles of all publications treating of particular species, genera, or families of Birds, systematically arranged by Families, in chronological order under each family, with alphabetization of authors' names under each date. The lot of titles herewith presented, however, are only those that relate to American species. Of those families which are exclusively American, as, for example, Mniotiltidæ, Icterida, Tanagridæ, Trochilidæ, etc., I give, of course, all the titles in my possession; but of those families which are more cosmopolitan, as the Turdida or Fringillidæ, I select only the titles relating to American species; and of extra-limital families no titles whatever are given. Such is the ostensible scope of the present instalment; but I actually give many titles relating to extra-limital species, when the close relationship of such species makes it desirable, or when the insertion of a few such additional titles enables me to present all that I possess of certain families."

The author further states:

"The three instalments together represent a nearly complete Bibliography of Ornithology so far as America is concerned. They are published in this manner in advance of the whole work for several reasons among others, both to render immediately available certain departments of the Bibliography which are practically completed. and to invite criticisms and suggestions for the bettering of the work. In only one particular would I deprecate criticism at present - and this is respecting the arrangement of the titles; for the scheme of the work cannot be fairly appreciated until the whole is published, including the several contemplated Indexes." The author states that it is not his intention to print any more of the work at present, the American departments being the only ones sufficiently perfected to warrant their leaving his hands, but meanwhile he is preparing manuscript for the rest "as rapidly and as continuously as possible." *

In respect to the grouping of the species and genera of the Passeres into families, it is almost to be regretted that the author decided to follow the quite unnatural and now antiquated arrangement of Gray's "Handlist of Birds." The reasons for this procedure are stated to be the absolute necessity for "some fixed standard” for this grouping, and the indefinate limitations of the families in this order, and Gray's system being a well-known one has been selected. The other families present fewer difficulties, “being sufficiently nearly agreed upon by ornithlogists.” For the Passerine families "the titles have been assorted strictly and exactly according to the composition and sequence of those groups" in the Grayian system.

In reference to the character of the work, it is enough to say that it is fully up to the high standard of excellence of the previous instalments

* Subsequently to this decision, however, and while the "Third Instalment" was passing through the press, the author so far departed from the plan here announced as to print a "Fourth Instalment," presently to be noticed.

already fully noticed in this Bulletin. Its utility no working ornithologist can fail to highly appreciate, while it will form an enduring monument to the author's patience, industry, and thoroughness of research.J. A. A.

COUES'S FOURTH INSTALMENT OF ORNITHOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY.* - This "Fourth Instalment" is of the same character as the first two, and attempts to do for British Birds what those did for American Birds. It accordingly is intended to include “the titles of all publications treating of British Birds as such, exclusively, or indiscriminately and collectively." "In order to fall within the scope of this fourth instalment," says the author, " a publication must relate to British Birds as such. Secondly, it must relate to British Birds exclusively. Thirdly, it must relate to birds of more than one species, genus. or family." "This instalment," the author further states, "like those which have preceded it, is to be considered in the light of published proof-sheets, to be cancelled on the final appearance of the whole work." The titles here given fill upward of a hundred pages, yet the author believes that they include not more than one-half of the number really belonging here, and urges that defects and omissions be kindly brought to his notice. As it is, being accurate as far as it goes, it will prove of great usefulness, and is entitled to the cordial welcome it will doubtless receive.— J. A. A.

HARVIE-BROWN ON THE CAPERCAILLIE IN SCOTLAND.† — As already noticed in the pages of the Bulletin, (Vol. V, pp. 110, 111), Mr. HarvieBrown published last year an exhaustive little work on the Capercaillie in Scotland, giving a history of its extinction and subsequent introduction and dispersion. The present paper is a continuation of the Appendix of that work, giving an account of its extension in 1879, with a few additional references to early records of its presence in Scotland and Wales.—J. A. A.

This briefly

STEERE ON THE BIRDS OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.‡ annotated list of III species is good as far as it goes, but is obviously very imperfect, including less than half of the species that undoubtedly occur there. The author himself thus speaks of it: "This does not pretend to be a complete list of the birds found about Ann Arbor; but, with the exception of a few, given upon the authority of labeled specimens in the Museum, it is the result of about three years' collecting and observation in this vicinity" (p. 7).-J. A. A.

* Fourth Instalment of Ornithological Bibliography: being a list of Faunal Publications relating to British Birds. By Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. II, pp. 359-476. Published "May 31, 1880."

The Capercaillie in Scotland. By J. A. Harvie-Brown, F. R. S. Scottish Naturalist, July, 1880. Author's reprint, pp. 1-7.

A List of the Mammals and Birds of Ann Arbor and Vicinity. By Professor J. B. Steere. 8vo, 8 pp. 1880.

MINOR ORNITHOLOGICAL PAPERS.*—“The Oölogist,"† volumes IV and V (March, 1878- Dec. 1880), contains, among other short papers and interesting notes relating to the nesting habits of birds, the following (Nos. 55-70): —

55. Nesting of the White-rumped Shrike (Collurio excubitoroides). By D. H. Eaton, Oölogist, IV, pp. 2, 3, March, 1878.— An original account, based on the finding of several nests; locality not stated.

56. Nesting of the Horned Lark (Eremophila cornuta) in Central New York. By Fred. J. Davis. Ibid., IV, p. 9, April, 1878.—Nest, with three young birds and one egg, found 15th of April.

57. Nesting of the Large-billed Water Thrush (Siurus ludovicianus). By Adolphe B. Covert. Ibid., IV, pp. 10, 11, April, 1878.— Description of nest and eggs; locality not stated, but doubtless Michigan.

58. The Sharp-tailed Finch-Ammodromus caudacutus - its Nest and Eggs. By T. M. Brewer. Ibid., IV, pp. 41, 42, Jan. 1879. — General account of its geographical distribution, nesting habits, etc.

59. Nesting of the Sharp-tailed Finch (Ammodromus caudacutus). By G. S. Smith. Ibid., IV, pp. 66, 67, April, 1879.- Account of nesting habits, with special reference to the salt marshes near Boston.

60. Increase of Some Species in Certain Localities. By Fred J. Davis. Ibid., V, p. 5. July, 1879.—Scarlet Tanager, Crow Blackbird, Great-crested Flycatcher, Green Heron, and Pine Grosbeak referred to; locality (apparently) Central New York.

66

61. Rhynchops nigra in the Bay of Fundy. By Geo. A. Boardman. Ibid, V, p. 13, August, 1879. Visit of a large flock" of these birds to this locality a few weeks since".

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62. Breeding of Podilymbus podiceps at St. Clair Flats, Mich. By W. H. Collins. Ibid., V, p. 19, Sept. 1879.- Description of nest and

eggs.

*Continued from Vol. V, p. 181.

+ The Oologist: A Monthly Journal devoted to the Study of Birds and their Eggs. Edited by S. L. Willard. Volume IV [March, 1878—August, 1879.] Utica, N. Y. Published at No. 27 Oneida Street. 8vo. pp. 100. Two colored plates; woodcuts in the text.

"The Oologist," a monthly sheet of eight octavo pages, made its first appearance in March, 1875, under the management and at the place of publication above-named. In the issue for November, 1879 (Vol. V, No. 5) the announcement was made that the journal "has been transferred to Jos. M. Wade, of Rockville, Conn., from which place it will be issued in the future." Beginning as a boys' magazine, with the original articles mostly unsigned or pseudonymous, its character has steadily improved, and though devoted, as its name implies, to the oölogical phase of ornithology, contains many notes of permanent scientific value, duly endorsed by the name of the writer. Under its new management (Jos. M. Wade, editor, S. L. Willard, Assistant editor) we look for still further improvement, and bespeak for it the general patronage it so well merits.