324) Recently published Ornithological Works. 



our knowledge, and that is that embryos and more simple 

 types of animal and vegetable life have the more simple 

 coloration. The reason for this is that in them " the 

 molecular motions are comparatively free " and indefinite ; 

 that afterwards they become " fuller^ richer, more definite, 

 and less capable of further modification/' " Brilliant colora- 

 tion/' concludes the author, " is a mark of the maturity of 

 some organic force-wave, in which the molecular rhythm has 

 reached its maximum simplicification " (!). 



51. Noble's List of European Birds. 



[A List of European Birds, includiug all those found in the Western 

 Paltearctic Area, Avith a Supplement containing species said to have 

 occurred, but which, for various reasons, are inadmissible. By Ileatley 

 Noble, F.Z.S. 8vo. London : II. H. Porter, 1898.] 



In this exceedingly useful list, Mr. Noble includes 743 

 species as entitled to places among the birds of Europe ; 

 wdiile there are 89 which have not yet esta])lished their claims, 

 and many of these have, indeed, no right to serious considera- 

 tion. We notice an incongruity in the fact that whereas 

 Mr. Noble includes — very justly — the Asiatic Golden Plover, 

 Charadrius fulvus, among European species, he ))laces the 

 American form, C. dominicus, among the outsiders ; although 

 the latter has undoubtedly been obtained in Great Britain 

 (and therefore in Europe) as well as the former. For persons 

 who do not distinguish the forms specifically, the earliest 

 name is C. dominicus ; but that is another story. In dividing 

 the Order Tubinares into Families, Mr. Noble has forgotten 

 to insert Puffinidse after his no. 714; while tlie printers 

 have got past liiui with C«rthiidse for Certhiidae (p. 17). 

 Undoubtedly the compiler of a List with so few blemishes 

 merits our congratulations. 



52. Oberholser on the Wrens of the Genus Thryomanes. 



[A Revision of the Wrens of the C4euus Thryomanps, Sclater. By 

 Harry C. Oberholser. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxi. p. 42L] 



After preliminary remarks and redrawing the difterential 

 characters of the four allied genera Thryothorus, ThryO" 



