The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-09
The LIteratnre of Ornithologv.

The best single book for the study OF North
American birds is DR.. Elliot Coues's Key to
North American Birds" This is a small
quarto of $50 pages, containing a concise
account of every species of living and fossil
bird at present (1S72b known from the CONT
nent north of the Mexican and United States
boundary" 1t has six steel plates and $50
wood-cuts, and is furnished with ana
lytical keys to the genera, so that
species may be hunted out bird
in hand, as plants are analysed
of every American ornithologist. At the
present time it is out of print, but it is likely
another issue OF SO important book will
be forthcoming. The same authors Birds
of the Northwest $3.50 and Birds of the
Colorado Valley" (1S7S) are among the most
interesting and charming contributions to
American ORTHODOXY, while his three in
stalments OF American ornithological
autobiography lists of titles of books, papers,
etc, relating to American birds, are the COM
pletest works OF this nature ever compiled. J
Except the Key" and his manual of In
struction" for collecting and mounting birds
DIR. Coues's works are government publica-
tons. The Manual of the Vertebrates of the
Northern United States" describes nearly 500
species OF birds and as many mammals. rep
tiles and fishes. OF the latter group il is the
only manual. II is written by Prot. d. S.
Jordan, and published by Jansen, McClurg
& Co.. OF Chicago. Ii the student of the
vertebrated animals can afford but one book
Jordan's Manual is the best. and in any case
it is the best for the amateur or beginner. 1t
is compact and cheap. and is now the only
readily accessible book on our great groups
of birds and fishes. OF later and larger
works, we have Baird, Brewer & Rdg-
ways History of North American
RipHa nm arfn
$50. Water Birds, not yet issued
OF Audubons great double elephant four.
yolumed folio (38 by % inches) know CT
but one copy IN Indiana. 1t is in possession
of Ingram Fletcher, of this city, and is
finely preserved. This copy is full
size (the turkeys head rot trimmed off
as in some copies) A perfect
copy OF this great work is readily sold for
81 600. There are 435 coiored plates, and
I065 ife.size figures. This is the most
sumptuous ornithological work ever issued
Published by subscription by the author in
lished separately. in five large octave vol
umes. 1t mnst be carefully dis
tinguished from the late small folio
edition of 1861. containing only 40 plates.
Wilson's three volumes and folio atlas of
seyenty-six eolored plates from original
drawings, is one of the old-time QS28-29)
standard works.
Nor must we forget to mention Charles
Lucen Bonaparte, next Of the brothers after
Napoleon. Prince of MusiGnano, who, find
ing no vacant throne handy. hunted the
feaIhered race in America while his brother
hunted the human race in Europe. His
twenty-seyen plates drawn from nature by
himself and his various papers on American
birds, hold a curious and interesting. If not
scientifically valuable, place in American
ORTHODOXY.
Drowning from the mighty Audubon, from
Scotch Wilson and the French Prince TO our
region and time We may mention, among
Indiana bird-lovers and collectors, Fletcher
Noe, H. Balls and Henry Schwinge, Of India
popolis; Amos w. Butler, of BrOokville; Mr.,
and Mrs, H. w. EYermann, of Camden; Jesse
Green, of Charlottesville; Edgar Quick and
John Refine, of Brookville, and G. A Smith,
of Fort Wayne.
Professors Jordan and Gilbert, of the State
University, know = bird when they see it.