'Recent Literature. 51 



teeming with fresh matter of no ordinary interest. A little of the cream 

 has perhaps already been skimmed, but the milk that remains is none the 

 less palatable on that account. The pamphlet comprises about fifty pages, 

 and is illustrated by three fine woodcuts, which acceptably present the 

 characters of some of the rarer forms. Dr. Merrill's investigations were 

 mainly conducted in the immediate vicinity of Fort Brown, on the Rio 

 Grande, about eighteen miles inland from the Gulf Coast. They were 

 prosecuted unremittingly through a period of a little over two years, 

 and the results bear abundant testimony to the thoroughness and reli- 

 ability of his work. Two hundred and fifty-two species and varieties 

 are given in all, and the character of their presence is in most cases satis- 

 factorily defined. While it is manifest that Dr. Merrill has devoted his 

 researches largely to the department of oology, the general subject has, 

 nevertheless, been by no means neglected. The habits of such rare and 

 little-known species as Mololhrus ceneus, Nyctidromus albicollis, Chordiles 

 acutipennis texensis, Fulco fusco-ccerulcscens, Buteo albicandatua, JEclimop- 

 lila albifrons, Ortalida vetula, Plegadis guarauna, and Dendrocygna autum- 

 nalis are treated at considerable length, and the intrinsic interest of the 

 subject is well set forth by the clear, able style in which these biographies 

 are written. Besides the addition of about a dozen Mexican forms new 

 to our avi-fauna, Dr. Merrill has contributed much useful information re- 

 lating to the geographical range of many North American species other- 

 wise well known. As before stated, the nests, eggs, and breeding habits 

 of Texan birds receive the larger share of attention, and much of the mat- 

 ter pertaining thereto is as valuable as it is new. The probable nidifica- 

 tion upon our southern border of such northern species as the Carolina 

 Rail and the Turnstone is indicated, while the Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia 

 imperator) is unqualifiedly given as breeding on Padre Island in the Gulf. 

 In view of the unusual interest attaching to this last announcement, it is 

 to be regretted that the facts upon which the statement is made are not 

 fully given. We understand, however, that they are unimpeachable. 

 Numerous notes by Mr. Ridgway and Dr. Brewer occur throughout the 

 paper and greatly enhance its value. The former gentleman contributes 

 the synonymatic tables and diagnoses which are appended to many of the 

 rarer species, and in one instance (that of Myiarchus erythrocercus cooperi) 

 certain changes of nomenclature are adopted for which the author's 

 reasons are given at some length. 



In a few details of arrangement the paper is open to adverse criticism. 

 The initials " R. R," after Mr. Ridgway's contributions, are in several cases 

 omitted, and nothing appears to show that the entire text relating to 

 those species was not written by Dr. Merrill himself. But still more 

 unfortunate is the citation of references in parentheses after the annota- 

 tions. As the list is printed, the matter which precedes each reference im- 

 presses the reader at first sight as a quotation, with its authority following. 

 Had these references been placed under the headings in the form of 



