The Portland daily press., 1879-02-01
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications.
In The Birds of the Colorado Valley birds
of the Colorado Valley; A Repository of Scien-
iio and Popular reformation concerning
North American Oathology. By Elliott Coues.
Part First, Passeres to Laniidae. Washington
Government Printing Office, 1873, pp. So7. J
DR.. Cones makes most important contribu.
tion to North American pathological litera-
ture, and one which becomes at once indispep.
sable to the specialist in this attractive branch
of natural scieucs In addition to the bird
biographies, the book contains complete analy-
sis of the synonomy of all North American
species included in the families discussed, aud
photographed appendix Of more than 200
pages. The publication of this portion of the
work has been looked for with no little anxiety
by ornithologists, in anticipation Of a pretty
general disturbance of familiar nomenclature,
and it is matter for con graduation that so
few changes have been found necessary. The
common house wren stands as Troglodytes
domesticus instead of 7. asdon as formerly; the
b b.rn-swallow of the u oted Stats, bsing con-
sidered identical with the Middle and South
American form, loses iss distinctive specific
title horreorum for erytbrog asta; and Lsuius is
adopted as the generic term for the shrikes,
instead Of tha generally accepted Collyrio.
We notice no other important changes
The "Bbliograplcal Appeudlx'' is perhaps
the most notable eature of the book. Ii con-
sists of about ON thousand titles, chronology
cally arranged embracing a range of produc-
tious from theworks of Wilson and Audubon
down to the last note the subject" with
an index to gnthors aud localities. Thus a
student of anv particulsr State or faunsl pro
r,nce Cay at ence turn TO- list with na.eh-
II. 9los <>-.-ssS upoutnat localitF-MainA ss
appears, has met with more or less extended
notice at the hands of Holmes, Boardman,
Verrill, Hitchcock, Hamlin, Palmer and
Brown.
But while more of importance attaches to the
technical portion of the volume, the popular
accounts of the birds inhabiting the Colorado
Valley are far from devoid otinterest. No one
can write more pleasantly aud truly OF bird
ways than DR.. Coues, and he has done himself
full justice in the present volume. Ihe
chapter on the swallows is especially full and
and is supplemented by copious
references to the writings of other authors.
N. c. B.
The little volume of NJ. Ernes. Le1ouve
entitled Reading as fine art Boston: Roberts
Brothers; Portland: L)sing, Short & Harmon }
is thoroughly Fcench and wholly delicious. 1t
is easy TO recognize the rapid touch, the CON-
stautly dramatic quality OF tho colldbordteur OF
VI. Scube-shese two names that associate
themselves .useparably with modern literature
of the theatre Iti not strange then, that this
treatise on the most noble branch of vocali-
zation-the psrfectiug of daily speech-is full
of "reminiscences, of anecdote and suggestion
of the great actors whom, in his quality OF
dramatic author, NJ. LsgouSe has had unusual
facilities Of observing. Not the least charming
of his pages ara those where he describes his
boyhood, already tending toward dramatic
creation and representation. Ths exq uisite
power Of Mile. Mars is illustrated by very
delicately critical paragraph. The reader also
has time to nots the agreeable egotism of NJ.
Lsgouye-an egotism IS devoid of offanse as it
is natural and unreserved. he is quite aware
of his successes; it is he who speaks by the
lps of the actors, it is even he who has taught
them the moduatioDs of voice that are re-
quired for the rendering Of their parts. 1t
was, again, he whose eloquent aud digoiied
re ading-we have his word for it-com mended
to Mile. Rachel a part which she had consid-
cred beneath her; but which the author knew
had possibilities that her talent could not fail
to render actual. The chapter, Should We
Read as we Talk? i, fall of good sense and
itresistibly brilliant argument. 1t sets one to
/. u -. x;sa;.x
false intonations aud accents; aud OF omission
-of final letters, even whole syllables. IL is
only when We speak to perfection that we
may read precisely as we speak. The mana ye-
ment OF the breath is also secret of the art OF
reading, which M. Legouye has faithfully
| studied; and his observations are valuable fol
| their souudue,s and praoticability. The lesson
| On punctuation 10 reading, as given by NJ
| samson, the actor, to an ambitious you'll
| lis admirable. Tha fables Of Ia Foo
taine appear to be a favorits test of ths elocu
| tion and Intelligence of French artists
Their point, simplicity and elegance reuds
them suitable for the purpose; and n
one who has he ard the fable of the Two Dove
| INTRODUCED by NM. Scribe and Legouve int
their drama Adrienne LecouUreur-no one VIII
has heard this tender little idyl recited 10 tn
golden Tuscan accents of Siguors Rlstori, cal
for an instant doubt the adaptability of l.
Fontaine's fables for defamation. M. Ls
gouvs's explanation of the poins to be made i
reading the able of The Heron ia notabl
lesson to readers. Ia brief, this is a volume ir
dispsusable to those who iu public or 10 privat
wish 10 give pleasure by Que of the most refiue
and satisfactory of acts; and NJ. Legouve's il
structions are so genally, Sd brilliantly and s
clearly given that one closes the book with ger
uine friendship and esteem for the dramatiS
to whom We owe so many of the leading play
| Of the day. Tue translation, by Mrs Aob
Laugdon Alger is easy, correct and spirited.
Samuel Johnson, his Words and his Way
Edited by E 7. Mason New York: Harp
Bros. Portlaad: Loring, Short q Harmony
its very tit+e prom ses much interest and ente
tainment-for DR.. Johoson's words were man
and sesquipedalian, aud his ways unique az
uucouth. Mr. Mason, whose work as compil
, is evidently conscientious and highly intel
gent, has arranged his volume in a curiol
fashion, mspping out the character of d
johnson under distinct heads, such a.: Appea
.uce, Maaoers aud Pecul arities; Increiuii'
| aud Cgncism; Anti-Seutlmau tslts: Genet
Brutality; Apologies; Tenderness; Ausaori'
and Pfedominsnce; Miscellaneous, (and WI
| can doubt that this latter quality was the mo