346 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



works consulted. He found birds abundant^ but of the 

 ninety-six species observed the majority were much the same as 

 in the Sitkan district. Two new forms are described as peculiar 

 to the group — Cyanucitta stelleri carlottce and Dryobatts 

 picoideus; while a thirds Nyctala acadica scotcea, is also found 

 on the mainland. 



63. Osgood on the Birds of Cook Inlet, Alaska. 



[Natural History of the Cook Inlet Region, Alaska. By Wilfred II. 

 Osgood. North American Fauna, No, 21, pp. 61-81, pis. vi., \ii. 

 Washington, 1901.] 



After leaving the Queen Charlotte Islands, Mr. Osgood 

 and his assistant made a "biological reconnaissance" into 

 the district of Cook Inlet, just south of the great Alaskan 

 promontory. It was too late (August and September) for the 

 summer migrants, and the birds met with were permanent 

 residents or '' fall stragglers,'" Land-birds were not nume- 

 rous either as species or mdividuals. The list enumerates 

 77 species, all known Alaskan forms. 



64', Pycraft on the Neognathine Palate. 



[Some Points in the Morphology of the Palate of the Ncognathce, 

 By W. P. Pycraft, A.L.S., F.Z.S. Journ. Linn. Soc. Loud. (Zool.) 

 xxviii. pp. 343-357, pis, 31, 82.] 



]VIr. Pyci'aft here discusses the peculiarities and changes 

 of the palate in the Neognatha^ compared with those in the 

 Pal(2ognath(£, the former group consisting of the " Carinate " 

 birds, with the exception of the Tinamous, and the latter of 

 the Tinamous and the " Ratite " birds. He prefers the palate 

 to the sternum as a guide to classification. The differences 

 lit jonsiders to be those of degree, and not of kind, while 

 the Palseognathine type is undoubtedly the oldest, and 

 Dromceus the most typical genus in this respect. Dromceus 

 is therefore taken as the standard, and is compared as re- 

 gards the palate with Rhea and the Tinamous (which are 

 much alike) ; a glance is then taken at the '* Carinate " birds, 

 of which many examples are considered. Summing up, 

 the vomer and pterygoid are stated to be uninterruptedly 



