Notes and News. I I C 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, Capt. Med. Corps, U. S. Army, is now on duty in 

 the field, being stationed at Fort Wingate, N. M. He is at present busily 

 engaged on a memoir on the anatomy of the Alcidae, for which many of 

 the drawings are already completed. He would, however, be glad to re- 

 ceive additional material in illustration of the group, either skeletons or 

 parts of skeletons, or, still better, specimens in spirits. He would like to 

 borrow such material, giving due credit therefor in his forthcoming 

 memoir. Sterna, skeletons, and skulls may be readily sent by mail, and 

 alcoholics in like manner, if first thoroughly drained of alcohol and then 

 well wrapped. 



Dr. Wilhelm Blasius has published in the 'Journal fur Ornithologie' for 

 January, 1SS4, a memoir of 125 pages on the Great Auk (A/ca impennis 

 Linn.). He gives the history of all known extant specimens, numbering 

 76 skins and mounted specimens, 9 skeletons, and 68 eggs. The number 

 of skeletons, however, should be reduced to 8, as the Museum of Compar- 

 ative Zoology is credited with two, whereas it has but one. Dr. Blasius 

 gives a resume of the literature of the subject, and the history in detail of 

 each specimen known to exist. 



'The Naturalist in Florida' is the name of an illustrated bi-monthly sheet, 

 edited by C J. Maynard, which it is intended "shall occupy a peculiar 

 field of its own, .... that of bringing before the people facts either new or 

 interesting of the Natural History of Florida and its vicinity." Three 

 numbers have already appeared, and contain several papers, by the editor, 

 of interest on birds. 



In a sale 'Catalogue of Bahama Birds' Skins, Nests, and Eggs,' Mr. C. 

 J. Maynard has described a new species of Woodpecker, under the name 

 Picus insularis. Its nearest ally is Picus villosus of North America, from 

 which, however, it appears to be specifically distinct. The description is 

 published as an extract from "Mr. Maynard's forthcoming work, entitled 

 'A Naturalist in the Bahamas.' " The publication of new species in 

 ephemeral sale catalogues has been repeatedly characterized as reprehensi- 

 ble, and the present case seems fully open to such criticism, there being 

 no lack of proper media for such announcements. Mr. Maynard secured, on 

 his last winter's trip to the Bahamas, fine series of several very rare 

 species, and many interesting notes on Bahama birds may doubtless be 

 safely anticipated in the above-named work which he proposes soon to 

 publish. 



'The Young Oologist,' a monthly of sixteen pages, edited and pub- 

 lished by Mr. Frank H. Lattin, of Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y., has nearly 

 completed its first volume. As its name indicates, it is devoted to oology, 

 and is published in the interest of young ornithologists, but each number 

 contains more or less matter of permanent value. 



