9 6 



Recent Literature. [January 



Shufeldt on the Avian Patella.* — An interesting paper, giving clear 

 descriptions and good figures of the knee-pan in Aptenodytes, Corvus. 

 Mergus, Si/la, Podiceps, Colymbus, Fnlmarus, Phalacrocorax, and Hes- 

 perornis. The author adheres to the second view, that the patella does 

 not represent a 'detached olecranon,' and proves it by showing that the 

 sesamoid mav coexist, as it does in Podiceps, with a very large cnemial 

 process of the tibia, the latter being the true antitype of the olecranon. 



Nothing advances the progress of scientific ornithology more speedily 

 or more effectually than the anatomical studies of such men as Mac- 

 gillivrav, Huxley, Garrod, Forbes, and Shufeldt. — E. C. 



Minor Ornithological Publications. — The 'Ornithologist and Oologist,' 

 Volume VIII, f contains the following (Nos. 669-771) : — 



669. Breeding Habits of the Carolina and American Eared Grebes. — 

 Podilymbus podiceps and Dytes nigricollis californicus. By B. F. Goss. 

 Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. VIII, pp. 1, 2. 



670. Explanation. By J. G. Cooper. With a note by the Editor. 

 Ibid.^ p. 2. — On the number of eggs laid by Owls. 



671. Horned Grebe [Dytes auritus] in Conn\ecticu(\. By Chas. A. 

 Thompson. Ibid., p. 3. 



672. Rare Specimens at Bangor, Me. By E. S. Bowler. Ibid., p. 3. — 

 Hawk Owl, Rough-legged Hawks, Snowy Owls, etc. 



673. Fis//ing and Catching Ducks. By Wm. P. Tarrant. Ibid., p. 3. 

 — Ducks (species not stated) caught on set-lines, in 125 and 200 feet of 

 water in Lake Michigan. 



674. White Heron (Herodias alba egretta) . By Jno. II. Sage. Ibid., 

 p. 4. — Shot at Saybrook, Conn., Aug. n, 18S2. (Previously recorded by 

 same writer in O. and O., VII, p. 189. See antca, No. 443.) 



675. Field Glass [Ornithology']. By G. R. C. Ibid., pp. 5, 6. (See 

 above, No. 412. in Bull. N. O. C, VIII, 236.) 



676. Long-billed Marsh Wren. By B. B. Haines. Ibid., pp. 6, 7. — 

 Nesting habits as observed in New Jersey. 



677. Crossbills \in Tennessee]. By G. S. Smith. ibid., p. 7. — Re- 

 lates to the instances previously recorded by same writer in Bull. N. O. C, 

 VII, 56. 



678. Virginia Rail. Editorial. Ibid., p. 7. — Harry F. Haines col- 

 lected 1,000 eggs of this species in one season on the salt meadows of 

 Elizabeth, N.J. 



679. Notes from Hartford. [Conn.]. By Harry T. Gates. Ibid., p. 

 8. — Notes on various winter birds. 



* Concerning some of the Forms assumed by the Patella in Birds. Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus. Vol. vii, 1884, pp. 324-331. figg. 1-7. 



t The 'Ornithologist and Oologist' will not be hereafter indexed, as heretofore, in the 

 list of 'Minor Ornithological Publications,' owing in part to pressure on our space, but 

 mainly from the fact that it has become a publication of so much importance that none 

 of our readers should fail to have it in their libraries. 



