270 Recent Liicralurc. [April 



distribution of the species is given in tabular form at the end of the j^aper, 

 from which it appears that 19 are peculiar to Cozumel, while 24are North 

 American, and the remaining" 21 tropical Anierican. 



As already noticed (Auk, Vol. II, p. 294), a paper on the birds of 

 this island was published by Mr. Salvin in 'The Ibis' for April, 1885, in 

 which several of the species previously given as new by Mr. Ridgwa_v were 

 renamed by Mr. Salvin. The method of Mr. Ridgway's publication 

 of his preliminary paper (in pamphlet form, in advance of the 'Proceed- 

 ings' of which it formed a part) ha\iiiy been criticised by Mr. Salvin, 

 Mr. Ridgway takes occasion to defend the system of an advance distribu- 

 tion of authors' editions, so often, and. as we believe, properly, resorted to, 

 particularly, but not exclusively, in this country, in cases where other- 

 wise a considerable inter\al would elapse between the printing and the 

 distribution, or 'publication,' of tiie papers in the regular issuingof the 

 publications of whicli they form a part. — ^J. A. A. 



Minor Ornithological Publications. — -Random Notes on Natural His 

 torv,' a very excellent and well edited monthlv journal of natural history, 

 published bv Southwick and jeiicks of Providence. R. I., contains (Vols. 

 I-II. 1SS4-S5). besides valuable articles on the Mammals. Reptiles, and 

 Plants of Rhode Island, the following original notes and papers on orni- 

 tliology (Nos. 1003-1036). The unsigned articles are. we are informed, 

 m.iinly from the pen of Mr. F. T. Jencks. and are so entered in the fol- 

 lowing index to the ornithological papers. 



1003. Color of Birdi Ryes. [F. T. Jencks.] Random Notes on Nat- 

 ural History. I. No. i. Jan. 1SS4. P- '• ^o- -• P- i'* ^'^- 4- P- ^» 

 No. 6, p. 3. Vol. II. No. 7. p. 56. No. S. p. 64. No. lo, p. 75. — Under this 

 head is gi\en the color of the iris of various species of birds, as noted 

 from freshly killed specimens. The notes relate to a large number of 

 species of Birds of Prey, Ducks, Gulls, Herons, Woodpeckers, etc., and 

 in manj^ cases include juvenile stages as well as the adult 



1004. A Very Rare Bird ill Rhode Island. [By F. T. Jencks.] Ibid., 

 p. 6.-^"A Young Gyrfalcon, Hierofalco Gyrfalco. var. sacer" was killed at 

 Point Judith, Oct. 11. 1SS3. by E. S. Hopkins. 



1005. Br/innic/i's Guillemot in Rhode Island. [By F. T. Jencks.] 

 Ibid., p. 6. — One wa'^ s'lot --between Warwick Neck Light and Patience 

 Island. Dec. 26, 18S3. The first specimens we have ever known taken in 

 Narragansett Bay." Ten others are reported a^ taken later. {Ibid., No. 2, 

 p. 8). 



1006. Short-Eared O-vl's Nest. [By F. T. Jencks.] Ibid., p. 8. 



1007. .\inoiio- the Biiff'-breasfed Sandpipers. [By F. T. Jencks.] 

 Ibid.. No. 2. p. 4. — The record of a day's collecting at ^'ermilion, Dak. 



1008. l^Bird Notes. By F. T. Jencks.] Ibid., p. 9. — An adultmale King 

 Eider {Somateria .tpectabilis^ shot at Nayatt Point. Bristol Co.. R. I., 

 about Jan. i. 1S84. Purple Finches reported wintering in abundance near 

 Rangeley Lakes in Maine. 



* Each number of Volume I is separately paged. 



