I06 Recent Literature. \j^. 



ness Volumes I and II, considering the magnitude and great labor of the 

 undertaking. Having already noticed at some length the scope and char- 

 acter of the 'Hand List' it is necessary here merely to call attention to the 

 contents of the present volume,' which includes Dr. Sharpens Orders 

 XXXIV, XXXV, and a part of order XXXVI, or the Eurylsemids, the 

 Menuridse, and the Mesomyodian and Acromyodian Passeres. These 

 groups embrace 19 families, represented, in round numbers, by 400 genera 

 and 3000 species, about equally divided between the Old World and New 

 World. The numerically leading families are the Muscicapidte, with 696 

 species; the Tyrannidre, with 563; the Dendrocolaptidie, with 393; the 

 Formicariid;e, with 348; the Pycnonotida.% with 245; the Campophagidse, 

 with 159; the Cotingidse, with 145 ; and the Hirundinidae, with 116. 

 Among the larger genera are Rhipidura with 99 species, Thamnophilus 

 with 72, Pitta with 51, Synallaxis with 49, Grallaria with 42, Siptor7iis 

 and Piezorhynchus each with 41, and Hiritndo with 40 ; while as many 

 more genera include from 30 to 40 species each. It should, however, be 

 understood that 'species' in this connection means nameable forms, no 

 nomenciatural distinction being made in the 'Hand List' between 

 species and subspecies. 



Dr. Sharpe has brought the subject down to about the end of the year 

 1900, and in some cases well into 1901, although the date of the preface is 

 July 10, 1901. Note is duly made of the many generic changes pointed 

 out as necessary by Oberholser and Richmond during the last two or 

 three years, and most of them receive Dr. Sharpe' s approval. Formiciv- 

 ora., however, we are glad to see, holds its place as against Drytnopkila, 

 which latter now replaces Myrvieciza. 



The American genus Polioftila, it niay be noted, now finds a resting 

 place in the Old World family Muscicapidre ! 



The excellent character of the work, mentioned in our notices of pre- 

 vious volumes, is well sustained, and the same care has been taken to 

 secure revision of the proofsheets by leading authorities, which include 

 seven ornithologists of England, six of the most prominent European 

 ornithologists, and six in America. — J. A. A. 



Stark's 'Birds of South Africa." Vol. 11.^ — The second volume of 

 'The Birds of South Africa,' has been prepared by Mr. W. L. Sclater, Di- 

 rector of the South African Museum, from manuscripts left by the late Dr. 



1 For a notice of Vol. I see this Journal, XVII, Jan. 1900, pp. 79-81, and of 

 Vol. II, ibid., XVIII, Jan. 1901, pp, 120, 121. 



-The I Birds of South Africa | By | Arthur C. Stark, M. B. | Completed by 

 W. L. Sclater, M. A., F. Z. S. | Director of the South African Museum, 

 Cape Town | Vol. II | with a Portrait, Map and Illustrations | London | R. H. 

 Porter | 7 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W. | igor. — Svo, pp. i-xiv -|- 

 1-323, frontispiece, 83 text cuts. 



