174 Recent Literature. 



delawarensis, L. tridactylvs, Colymbus septentrionalis, and Podiceps cnrmi- 

 tus. It is sin - pri«ing that such species as Lanius borealis, Patserculux 

 savanna, Melospiza paluxtris, Spizella pusiUa, Accipiter fuscus, Buteo line- 

 alus, Tringoides maculariun, and Porzana Carolina should have escaped 

 notice in the firsl list. 



That the present paper has undergone thorough and careful revision, 

 as well as increase in size by the addition of new species, is evidenced 1>\ 

 the different nature of the remarks under certain species. For example, 

 in the " Rathbun-Fowler List," Polioptila carulea is said to lie - Irregular 

 as to numbers, hut never rare. Perhaps it breeds. Arrives from the 

 south in May." And Dendrceca striata is given as '■ a very rare migrant." 

 In the present paper we find under the head of /'. carulea : " Rare. One 

 taken near Penn Yan, N. Y. No date given. Gilbert." And under /'. 

 striata: '•Common. Arrives the third week in May, and leaves the last 

 of September." Such radical changes as these show that Mr. Rathhun 

 has critically re-examined the evidence on which his former statements 

 were based, and has spared no pains to render the " Revised List " thor- 

 oughly reliable and trustworthy in every respect. 



One point illustrates well the greal value of giving exact data in the 

 place of conclusions drawn therefrom. In the old list. Anthus ludoviciativ* 

 was stated to he, " Xot a rare spring and autumn migranl : a few remain 

 and breed." In regard to this statement Mr. Allen writes, " We know not 

 as vet on what evidence the record of so improbable an occurrence is 

 made, hut would suggest that it certainly needs stn ng backing, the locality 

 being climatically and topographically so wholly unlike that usually chosen 

 bv this exceedingly boreal species as its breeding station." (Bull. Nutt. 

 Ornith. Club, Vol. III. No. 1. p. '■'■>. dan.. 1878 ) Hcuce it is with pecu- 

 liar interest that we read the following remarks, in the "Revised List," 

 upon the species now under consideration : "A common migrant. Seen 

 May 11,1878. Departs the last of October. (Observed in the breeding 

 season, May 18th, Gilbert.)" Now the publication of this date (" May 18") 

 throws a Hood of light upon the whole matter, clears it up, and explains 

 the breeding statement in a most satisfactory manner. A bird which is 

 known to breed on the cold and barren rocky shores of Labrador and the 

 Arctic regions would naturally he expected to pass us, mi its northward 

 journey, long before the warm sun and advance of vegetation had caused the 

 greater pari of our summer residents to commence nesting; hut this is not 

 the case with the present species. The Titlark seems in no hurry to reach 

 ii- bleak and desolate Arctic home, hut loiters slowly along to enjoy the 

 Bpring sunshine and verdure of the districts over which it passes. During 



tin' Bpring migration they usually pass through Lewis County, N. Y., 

 about the middle of May, and last Beason (1878) I shot two as late as 

 Ma) 21st; hence it is not at all surprising that Mr. Gilbert should have 

 found it at Penn Yan. May 18. The occurrence of the following species 



(many of them breeding) in Central New York is worthy of note from its 



