252 Recent Literattire. [zok 



from the Coasts of Western North 



New 



Charles H. Townsend, Resident Naturalist of the Steamer Alba- 

 tross. Extract. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIII, 131-142. Mr. Town- 

 send gives a briefly annotated list of species taken or observed by 

 him at places visited by the Albatross, no less than thirteen islands 

 being landed at, but his time was often so hmited that the work 

 could be done but superficially. "It is proposed," he says, "to 

 supplement the somewhat concise diagnoses of new species in this 

 paper by more complete descriptions at another time." The new 

 forms described are, from Clarion Island, Speotyto rostrafa, Zenaid- 

 tira clarioneyisis, Troglodytes tanneri, Puffimis auricularis; from 

 Socorro Island, Oceanodroma socorroensis; from Ballenas Bay, Low- 

 er Cal., Amphispiza belli ci7ierea; from near mouth of Rio Colora- 

 do, Sonora, Otocoris alpestris pallida; from Santa Barbara Island, 



Melospiza fasciata 



Melospiza fasciata 



insularis, which has since been found to be identical with O. a. 

 sirigata. Some of these new birds were founded upon an exceed- 

 ingly small collection, and it is doubtful if all of those from the 

 islands off the coast of California will prove actually new in the 

 light of further investigation. 



w. E. B. 



of the 



This, 



which 13 Bulletin No. 12 of the Division of Botany, makes a new' 

 departure, being royal 8vo. in size. The typography and plates are 

 much better than in previous Bulletins devoted to the grasses. A 

 htde bibhography would certainly be no disadvantage and localities 

 marking the distribution would be a decided addition. It will evi- 

 dently not be the fault of the Department of Agriculture If the peo- 

 pie of the United States fail to recognize and appreciate their 



grasses. 



Ne 



•o ' ^ c r, 1, nn II. By F. Lamson Scribner. 



Repnnt from Bull. Torn Club, xvii, No. 9, with plates CV-CVIII 



In this paper die author endeavors to identify the new genus and 

 species Racludospernmvt Mexicanum Vasey, with the little known 

 Jouvea strarmnea Fourn. The question should be of comparatively 



sXrf rV'rf ^^■'^°"'"°" ^'^'^ ^^^^^ sandy Reaches in 

 southern Ba,a California, extending from Todos Santos around 



