REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 171 



RiDGWAY, Robert. Catalogue of Old World birds in the United 

 States National Museum. 



(Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, iv, pp. 317-333.) 



The object of this catalogue, as expressed in the preface, "is to render ap- 

 parent the desiderata of the National Museum in the way of Old World birds, 

 so that museums or individuals desiring to make exchanges (or donations) 

 may know what species are wanted." The total number of species enumerated 

 is 1,339, to which there have been many additions* during the year, the re- 

 sult chiefly of a judicious distribution of the catalogue. It is proposed to 

 publish annually a supplement to this list, giving the names of all the species 

 added to the collection during the year, for the information of those from 

 whom accessions to the collection may be expected. 



JS'otes on some Costa Rican birds. 



(Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, iv, pp. 333-337.) 



This paper is based upon a small but very interesting collection of birds 

 presented by Sr. Don Jos6 C. Zeledon, of San Jos^, Costa Rica, and mostly 

 obtained upon the volcanic peak of Irazii. This elevated peak, like many 

 others of a similar character throughout tropical America, possesses a number 

 of entirely peculiar species, increased by two in the collection upon which 

 this paper is based, viz, a very pretty wren {Troglodytes ochraceus), and a re- 

 markable, as well as totally new form of dendrocolaptine bird {Acanthidops 

 lairdi), the genus as weU as the species being new. 



Description of a new flycatcher and a supposed new petrel 



from the Sandwich Islands. 



(Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, iv, pp. 337-338.) 



The birds described in this paper are new and very distinct species (Chasi- 

 empis sclateri and Cymochorea cryptolewcura) from the island of Waimea Kaui. 

 The ornithology of the Sandwich Islands, notwithstanding their accessibility,' 

 being very imperfectly known, every addition to our knowledge of the birds 

 of these islands possesses peculiar interest. 



Description of a new owl from Porto Rico. 



(Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, iv, pp. 366-371.) 



In addition to the description of a new species {Jsio portoricensis), this paper 

 treats critically of the nearly cosmopolitan Asio accipitrinus, or short-eared 

 owl, and its allies. 



Descriptions of two new thrushes from the United States. 



(Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, iv, pp. 374-379.) 



The birds herein described are HylocichJa fuscescens salicicola, or willow 

 thrush, from the Rocky Mountains, and H. aliciw bicknelli, from the Catskill 

 Mountains, New York. The latter is of particular interest, as being a local or 

 geographical race of a species which breeds abundantly along the Arctic coast 

 of North America, and which was supposed to be specially limited to that dis- 

 trict during the breeding season. Nevertheless, Mr.' Eugene P. Bicknell, of 

 Riverdale, N. Y., found a smaller and darker colored form, unquestionably 

 referable to the same species, breeding upon the Catskill Mountains, at an 

 elevation of about 4,000 feet. 



On two recent additions to the l^orth American bird-fauna, 



by L. Belding. 



(Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, iv, pp. 414-511.) 



During the winte r of 1881-'82, Mr. L. Belding, of Stockton, Cal., made an 



•The subsequent additions of identified species number 104, making a total of 1,443 

 species now in the collection. 



