Recently published Ornithological Works. 117 



27. Stejneger on Japanese Birds. 



[Review of Japanese Birds. By Leouhard Stejneger. Proc. U, S. Nat. 

 Mus. 1886, p. 99. I. The Woodpeckers.] 



We are much pleased that Mr. Stejneger has taken up the 

 subject of Japanese Ornithology, and intends to write a 

 " comprehensive and reliable guide " thereto, with '^ ample 

 descriptions of all the known forms, from original Japanese 

 specimens.^' Such a work is niuch wanted at the present 

 moment, and Captain Blakiston having given his unrivalled 

 collection of Japanese birds to the U.S. National Museum, 

 together with his MS. notes and catalogues relating to the 

 same subject, there can be no question that excellent mate- 

 rial is available for the purpose. Nor is there any doubt 

 that Dr. Stejneger, with his accurate knowledge of the birds 

 of both the Palgearctic and Nearctic Regions, is a proper man 

 to undertake the task. Captain Blakiston^s collection is 

 chiefly from the northern island of Yesso, but a fine series 

 from the central part of Hondo has been transmitted to the 

 U.S. National Museum by Mr. P. L. Jouy, which serves to 

 confirm the fact, already pointed out by Captain Blakiston, 

 that the former island belongs rather to the Siberian division 

 of the Palsearctic Region, while Hondo and the two smaller 

 southern islands belong to China. As, however, much more 

 of Japan remains to be explored before the exact distribution 

 of the local forms can be adequately worked out. Dr. Stej- 

 neger proposes to commence his labours with a set of preli- 

 minary papers, which he hopes may induce his brother 

 ornithologists to supply further materials and information. 

 In the present essay an account is given of the Japanese 

 Picidse ; of these one species of Wryneck and twelve Wood- 

 peckers are recognized. Of the latter, two are named as new 

 species, Dryohates subcirris, from Northern Hondo and Yesso, 

 and D. namiyei, from the south-western portion of the same 

 island, and one as a new subspecies, Pious canus yessoensis, 

 from Yesso. 



