VOL. I. | Reecent Literature. 297 
description, with figure, of the convoluted trachea of Manucodia 
comrit. 
By far the most important contribution to this number is the 
article by the editor ‘‘On Recent Advances in our Knowledge of 
the Geographical Distribution of Birds,’ which was originally de- 
livered as an address to the Second International Ornithological 
Congress at Budapest. The paper opens with an account of the 
six great geographical regions which Mr. Sclater originally pro- 
posed, and which were subsequently adopted by Wallace. Mr. 
Sclater says: ‘‘ After more than thirty-five years close attention to 
the subject and a constant study of all that has been written upon 
it by my brother workers, I am still convinced that, for the study 
of vertebrate animals at least, this six-fold division of the earth’s 
surface will be found more natural and more convenient than any 
other arrangement that has yet been suggested.” The body of the 
article is devoted to a special consideration of each region, with its 
subregions, giving in each case a summary of the progress which 
has been made. Mr. Sclater contends for the retention of the 
Nearctic Region as a distinct division. In regard to its subregions 
he says: ‘There is still much uncertainty as to the best mode of 
dividing up the Nearctic Region into smaller areas. * * * Dr, 
Merriam * * * who has recently studied the subject (1888), 
claims to be able to show that there are but two primary life-areas 
in the Nearctic Region. * * * It remains still to be seen 
whether Dr. Merriam’s proposed reform will be accepted by his 
brother workers in the United States.’’ The article concludes with 
a suggestion of the most important pieces of detailed work to be 
done in connection with the subject. A bibliography of a hundred 
and twenty-five works consulted forms an appendix. AK: 
Journal of Morphology, V, No. 2. Four articles of the usual 
high standard are contained in the present number. The one ‘‘ On 
the Habitsand Embryology of the American Alligator,’’ by Samuel 
Fessenden Clarke, is of special interest, as the embryology of our 
large Saurians has been hitherto neglected. The paper opens with 
a full and interesting account of the habits of the alligator in 
Florida. The danger of interfering with the balance of power in 
nature is here forced upon us. The alligators, we are told, are 
