i8$7.] Recent Literature. SK 



tail, etc. Although British ornithologists have long been aware of these 

 differences. Dr. Stejneger thinks it curious that they have not had "the 

 courage to describe this [British] bird under a distinctive name, not even 

 those who recognize Parus britannicus as a distinct species." — J. A. A. 



Stejneger on a 'Lost Species' of Murrelet. — According to Dr. Stejneger,* 

 Pallas's Ccpphus perdix must be removed from the list of synonyms and 

 rank as a good species, which "takes the place of B. marmoratus in Asiatic- 

 waters, " the latter being apparently confined to the American side. A 

 Kamtschatkan specimen (J ad., Aug. 27, 18S4) of B. perdix is described 

 in detail and figured, and the synonymy and distinguishing characters 

 of this species, B. brevirostris, and B. marmoratus are presented at 

 length.— J. A. A. 



Ferrari-Perez on the Birds of Mexico. — In 1877 the Geographical and 

 Exploring Commission of the Republic of Mexico was established by an 

 act of Congress, and became finally organized in 1S7S. In 1S79 Mx\ Fer- 

 nando Ferrari-Perez was appointed to the scientific corps of the general 

 staff as Naturalist of the Commission. During the j'ears that have since 

 elapsed considerable collections have been brought together in different 

 departments of natural history, 'Catalogues' of which are to appear in the 

 'Proceedings' of the U. S. National Museum. The first instalment of 

 these has now appeared! ; it includes Mammals, Birds, R.eptiles, and Batra- 

 chians, the report on the birds occupying 52 pages, and embracing 265 

 species. The annotations generally include merely citations of the works 

 where the species were first described, or in which the nomenclature 

 adopted was established, the vernacular names, and list of the specimens, 

 with date and locality of capture. The specimens have been determined 

 by aid of the collections at the U. S. National Museum, and assistance by 

 Mr. Ridgway and Dr. Stejneger in their identification is also acknowledged. 

 Besides this, there are remarks by Mr. Ridgway on many of the more in- 

 teresting species, duly bracketed and signed "R. R.," these annotations, 

 of course, adding greatly to the value of the 'Catalogue.' The new species, 

 which were briefly diagnosed by Mr. Ridgway in a recent number of the 

 'Auk' (III, p. 331), are here described at length. 



The paper forms not only an important contribution to our knowledge 

 of Mexican ornithology, but also throws much light upon the southward 

 range of many North American species. Sprague's Lark {Anthus spraguei) 

 is reported from Puebla, a point 1000 miles further south than any previous 

 record. — J. A. A. 



* On Brachyramphus perdix (Pall.) and its nearest Allies. By Leonhard Stejneger. 

 Zeitschr. f. ges. Orn., 1866, pp. 210-219, pi. vii. 



t Catalogue of Animals collected by the Geographical and Exploring Commission 

 of the Republic of Mexico. By Fernando Ferrari-Perez, Chief of the Natural History 

 Section. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1886, pp. 125-199. Published Sept. 1886. (Birds, 

 pp. 130-182.; 



