8o BULLETIN No. 36 



which furnishes a valuable synopsis of very easy reference, 



W. E. R. 



On the Osteology of the Woodpeckers. By R. W. Shufeldt, 

 M. D., Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, Phila., Vol. XXXIX, No. 164, pp. 

 578-622, pi. IX. In this paper Dr. Shufeldt gives a detailed 

 account of the comparative osteology of the Pici, being the re- 

 sult of ten years collecting of these forms. The author has 

 written a number of articles on this subject, the most impor- 

 tant of which appeared in the Pncecdings of the Zoological So- 

 ciety of London. (February 3, 1891,) but the pres-nt memoir 

 is the most complete one that has ever been written on the 

 subject. 



Dr. Shufeldt takes the subject up in a general rather than 

 in a special manner and calls attention to the salient osteological 

 features of many species of Woodpeckers, chiefly American, 

 rather than devoting himself in detail to a single form, and, 

 herein to our mind greatly rests the value of this paper; for in 

 the present state of our knowledge it seems to us that this paper 

 covering the ground which it does is of far more value than an 

 elaborate account of the osteology of a single type would be, 

 for, as the special osteology of the woodpeckers has not been 

 as yet satisfactorily worked up it follows that a general work 

 such as we have before us is what is especially desired at the 

 present time. 



Dr. Shufeldt also gives his views as to the relationship of 

 the Woodpeckers and we cannot do better than quote his own 

 words: "It is my opinion that it is to the great Passerine 

 group that the Pici are more nearly affined than to any other 

 existing suborder of birds. * * * * i here venture to 

 state that as our knowledge of the morphology of Aves becomes 

 more perfect the fact will be appreciated that the Pici and the 

 Passeres are divergent groups from a common stock in time; 

 and that the former have simply become highly specialized and 

 modified in accordance with their mode of life and habits." 



W. E. R. 



The Osteology of t/ie Cookoos. {Coccyges). By Dr. R. W. 

 Shufeldt, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, Vol. XL, No. 165. • 



