34 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 86 



the series breaks off abruptly with Simorhynchiis cristatelliis. 

 Aethia pygmaea and pusilla coukt easily have been mentioned 

 to complete the series, Ptyehorhamplms aleuticus not being 

 recorded at all, while several rarer forms are given. The 

 common Loon is mentioned from Greenland only, and the 

 Blackthroated not credited to America at all. We consider 

 this a grievous fault because it creates the impression that 

 both of these species are not found on the North American 

 continent at all, and while, of course, any American ornithol- 

 ogist knows better, some of the younger European beginners, 

 who will no doubt use the book in their studies, will get an 

 incorrect idea. In accordance with Dr. Reichenow's ideas as 

 to trinomialism, Colymbus nigricollis cal. gets credit as a 

 full species, as, for instance, among the Geese, Chen Hyper- 

 borea nivalis and Branta C. Hutchinsii, Colymbus holbolli is 

 not given ; if considered identical with griseigena, the geo- 

 graphical habitat of the latter should be extended to cover 

 America. None of the Albatrosses is credited with an occur- 

 rence in America. Among the Petrels Oceanodroma hornbyi 

 is given a place, while many other more common forms are 

 omitted. We do not understand why such an undue prom- 

 inence should be given this form and others not even men- 

 tioned. No distinction is made between the genera ^Nlegales- 

 tris and Stercorarius, and, we think, justly so. Under Procel- 

 sterna only two species are mentioned; the new form from 

 Necker Island is not recorded. No record of Hydrochelidon 

 n. surinamensis is found ; if considered identical with nigra, 

 the habitat should include America. The Frigate birds are 

 credited with laying two or three eggs, on what authority we 

 know not. The American ornithologists have found them lay- 

 ing only one egg. For the Surf Scoter the generic name 

 Macrorhamphus Lesson is chosen. Now, as far as we know, 

 Lesson 's"Traite d'Ornithologie" was published in 1831, while 

 in 1817 already T. Forster, in his ''Synopsit. Cat. Brit. 

 Birds," used the name for the Dowitcher, the specific name 

 of which (griseus) dates back to Gmelin, in 1789 ; and under 

 the name for the Dowitcher we again find Macrorhamphus, 

 this time quoted from Leach. 



