1SS7.] Recent Literature. o7 



The faunal synopsis is preceded by an introduction which treats of the 

 distribution of the species in the region in general, and in the different 

 botanical zones of the country. Then follows a bibliography of the orni- 

 thological literature relating to Lapland, apparently very full, sufficient- 

 ly detailed, and embracing 113 separate titles. This large material is 

 admirably handled when treating each individual species, which is pre- 

 ceded by a complete synonymy of all the published records of its occur- 

 rence within the region. It is only to be regretted that he should have 

 paid any attention at all (cf. p. 210 in regard to Falco candicans) to Rev. 

 Bowden's miserable 'The Naturalist in Norway,' for a worse fraud and 

 humbug, as far as the ornithology at least is concerned, has never been 

 published. 



In the synopsis the author follows Dresser's arrangement and nomen- 

 clature ; a course to be specially commended. 



Altogether Mr. Pleske's book makes a most welcome addition to orni- 

 thological literature, and we most heartily congratulate him upon its 

 completion. — L. S. 



W. E. Brooks on the Genus Acanthis. — Mr. Brooks, the well-known 

 Indian Ornithologist, now living in Milton, Ontario, has recently contrib- 

 uted to "The Ibis' two papers* on the Redpolls, especially the American 

 species. The final result to which Mr. Brooks has^ arrived, he gives as 

 follows: "We have, then, five very well-marked species of Acanthis, viz. 

 A. kornemati?ii. A. exilipes, A. rostrata. A. linaria, and A. rufescens\ also 

 one doubtful bird, A. linaria holbeelli." Of this latter he says : "To me it 

 is not a thoroughly satisfactory species, like the others, but at present its 

 long bill is not easily accounted for. I am not partial to the trinomial 

 system, but for convenience' sake this bird might stand as Acanthis linaria 

 holbcelli. It is a variation not yet thoroughly worked out." The present 

 reviewer, who, on an earlier page of this number of 'The Auk,' has attempt- 

 ed to put this form on a satisfactory footing, feels quite satisfied with this 

 admission of Mr. Brooks, who, it must be remembered, is an opponent of 

 the theory of evolution, and to whom a form must be a 'full' species or 

 nothing. On the other hand it is very gratifying to find one's views in 

 regard to so difficult a group as the Redpolls shared and sustained by an 

 ornithologist of so great power of discrimination as Mr. Brooks, whose 

 statements the present writer is glad to indorse in most cases. The dif- 

 ferences of opinion between Mr. Brooks and myself relate directly to the 

 question of 'species or subspecies,' or perhaps 'binomials or trinomials.' 

 differences which, in fact, are quite unessential. — L. S. 



Stejneger on Japanese Woodpeckers. — The first of a series of papers 

 on Japanese birds, published in the 'Proceedings' of the United States 



* Stray Ornithological Notes. Ibis, 1885, pp. 380-389; the portion relating to 

 Acanthis on pp. 381-385. Additional Notes on the Genus Acanthis. Ibis, 1886, pp. 

 359"3 6 4- 



