154 Recent Literature. [April 



Bryant on the Ornithology of Guadalupe Island.— In December, 1SS5, 

 Mr. Bryant visited Guadalupe Island, and the results of his three and 

 a half months' work there is given in a paper* of 50 pages, published in 

 the 'Bulletin' of the California Academy of Sciences. The only previous 

 exploration of the island in the interest of ornithology was made by Dr. 

 Edward Palmer, in 1875, who obtained 72 specimens of birds, representing 

 nine species, eight of them being land birds and new to science. To this 

 list Mr. Bryant added 27 species, raising the total number now known from 

 the island to 36. All but four of the species are land birds, and eight of 

 them are peculiar to the island. Mr. Bryant's paper opens with a detailed 

 account of the topography, climate, and vegetation of the island, which is 

 followed by a copiously annotated list of the species, consisting of bio- 

 graphical notes of much interest, including descriptions of the nests and 

 eggs of most of the resident species, of which nothing was previously 

 known. Good series of specimens were obtained of most of the species 

 met with, measurements of which are also included. 



Although Dr. Palmer seems to have harvested the 'first fruits' (Mr. Brv- 

 ant failing to obtain any species new to science), Mr. Bryant's paper ad- 

 mirably supplements Mr. Ridgway's papers on the bird fauna of the island, 

 based on Dr. Palmer's collections, and forms a highly important contribu- 

 tion to the subject, leaving apparently little to be added by future explor- 

 ers. — J. A. A. 



Ralph and Bagg on the Birds of Oneida County, N. Y.— The 'Anno- 

 tated List of the Birds of Oneida County, N. Y.J and its immediate vicin- 

 ity,'! by Dr. William L. Ralph and Mr. Egbert Bagg, though not "put 

 forth as complete," is based on the observations of several years, and ap- 

 pears to have been compiled in a thoroughly scientific spirit and with due 

 care, the authority being stated for such data as are not given on their per- 

 sonal knowledge. A few species have been included from having been 

 found in neighboring counties, for which there is as yet no positive 

 record for the county in question, but they are duly distinguished in the 

 annotations, and are covered by the title in the phrase "its immediate 

 vicinity." Many valuable observations are accredited to Dr. C. Hart 

 Mernam (now of Washington, D. C), and Messrs. A. L. Brainard and 

 A. A. Howlet, of Syracuse. The List numbers 224 species. — J. A. A. 



Piatt on the Birds of Meriden, Conn.— Mr. Piatt's List} appears to 

 have strict reference to the town limits of Meriden, Conn., and to be 

 based almost wholly on the author's personal observations. It is briefly 

 annotated and numbers 116 species. The list is very attractively printed, 

 and seems thoroughly trustworthy, so far as it goes, but is obviously in- 



* Additions to the Ornithology of Guadalupe Island. By Walter E. Bryant. Bull. 

 California Acad. Sciences, No. 6, pp. 269-318. ("Issued Jan. 5, 1887.") 



t Trans, of the Oneida Hist. Soc, Vol. Ill, pp. 101-147, 1886. 



+ A List of the Birds of Meriden, Conn. By Franklin Piatt. Trans, of the Meriden 

 Scientific Assoc, Meriden, Conn., Vol. II, 1885-86, (Feb. 1887), pp. 30-53. 



