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ad is? | Recent Literature. 229 
abundantly represented on the Australian continent and closely associated 
with it in ornithological history. This number covers the Lories (Tricho- 
glossoide), the Lorilets (Opopsittide), the Palm Cockatoos (Probosci- 
geride), and the Black Cockatoos (Kakatceide —in part). The discus- 
sion of the nomenclature of both genera and species is as usual very full, 
and there is an historical résumé of the systematic literature of the entire 
group of Parrots. 
Now that Mr. Mathews has reached families that are largely limited to 
the country of which he writes, or those in the same region, there are but 
few extra-limital forms discussed and fewer far-reaching changes in nomen- 
clature. We note the following new names in this installment of the work: 
Parvipsitta subgen. nov. (p. 43), type Psittacus pusillus White; Nannop- 
sittacus gen. nov. (p. 65), type Cyclopsitta suavissima Sclater; Probosciger 
aterrimus oorti subsp. nov. (p. 94), type locality, Dutch New Guinea. 
There is an elaborate discussion of the geographic races of the great 
black Palm Cockatoos and their proper nomenclature, which throws much 
light on a vexed question.— W. S. 
Origin of the Generic Name A&thia.1— Dr. E. Hartert has recently 
called attention to the fact that the name 4thia adopted in the last edition 
of the A. O. U. Check-List in place of Simorhynchus, should be cited from 
Merrem (Versuch eines Grundnisses zur Allgemeinen Geschichte und 
natiirlichen Eintheilung der Végel, Leipzig, 1788) instead of from Dumont 
(Dict. Sci. Nat., revised edition, I, 1816, Suppl., 71). This is a very wel- 
come addition to our knowledge of the history of the name, but Dr. Hartert 
seems rather severe in his criticism of the A. O. U. Committee for not 
running the name back to its original source. 
The writer is responsible for calling attention to the name (see Auk, 
1907, p. 190) and so far as he is aware it had not been quoted by any orni- 
thologist except Dumont, which would indicate that Merrem’s work 
referred to by Dr. Hartert as ‘‘ well known but somewhat scarce,” is de- 
cidedly less well known than he seems to think. It is moreover not to be 
found in the libraries of either Philadelphia or Washington. Dr. Hartert 
asks: ‘“‘Why was no search made for Merrem’s name?”’ The writer would 
reply that a search was made. Sherborn’s ‘Index Animalium’ was con- 
sulted and while the work cited by Dr. Hartert was found it is stated that 
it contains no new species and as the name thia is not listed by Sherborn, 
it was a natural inference that it did not occur in the work. 
Curiously enough Dr. Hartert corroborates Sherborn by stating that the 
German work contains only vernacular names but adds that 4thia occurs 
on page 7 of a Latin edition which he quotes as ‘Tentamen Naturalis 
Systematis Avium.’ This work seems to be less known than the other, 
although what appears to be the same thing is quoted by Engelmann and 
10On the Name of the “Auklets.’”” By Ernst Hartert, Ph.D. Novitates Zoologice. 
XXIIT, No. 3, p. 339. December 1, 1916. 
