Vol. XVIII 1 Recent Literature. 211 



igoi. J ^ 1. I. 



chapter on ' acquired habits,' and on the ' argument from design,' and 

 finally an Appendix (pp. 114-127) comprising a 'Key to the Woodpeckers 

 of North America,' and 'Descriptions of North American Woodpeckers.' 

 Tliere is also a good index. The book evinces a thorough familiarity 

 with woodpecker life and structure, gained through personal observation 

 and study, and ability to impart such knowledge clearly and in an 

 attractive way without any sacrifice of scientific accuracy. The book is 

 thus well adapted to instruct and inspire amateurs, whether youthful or 

 of more advanced years. Of the illustrations it is enough to say that 

 the five colored plates are by Fuertes, and the text illustrations from 

 drawings by J. L. Ridgway. — J. A. A. 



Shufeldt's Recent Contributions to our Knowledge of the Osteology of 

 Birds. 1 — In the first of these papers Dr. Shufeldt briefly reviews the 

 osteological characters of the Sand Grouse, concluding that they belong 

 wiiere they are usually placed, between the Pigeons and Gallinaceous 

 Birds, and forin a suborder, the Pterocles. 



In the Osteology of the Woodpeckers we are given a somewhat detailed 

 and comparative account of the osteology of the North American Wood- 

 peckers, which though somewhat uneven in its method of treating the 

 various portions of the skeleton, forms a good work of reference. It is to 

 be regretted that a single species was not selected for description and the 

 various parts described in detail, the points wherein other species differed 

 from this being noted. This would have condensed the paper and not 

 only have saved much repetition, but enabled the user of this paper to at 

 once find the information of which he is in search. This method is 

 practically followed in discussing the sternum, and it is very convenient; 

 when we wish to know the condition of the cranium in respect to the 

 extent to which it is pitted by the roots of the feathers we are obliged to 

 turn over page after page. Still it is most welcome to have the informa- 

 tion in one paper, and the summary of characters towards the end of the 

 paper condenses the general characters of the group into two pages. The 

 question of the vomer is gone over and most will agree with Dr. Shu- 

 feldt that when this bone is present it is in its propei- place, that the 

 irregular ossifications are neither vomers nor palatines, but adventitious 

 ossicles. Among other points well brought out is the great difference 

 in the length and disposition of the hjoid. It may be noted that the first 



1 On the Systematic Position of the Sand Grouse (Pterocles; Syrrhaptes). 

 By R. W. Shufeldt. American Naturalist, XXXV, No. 409, January, 1901, 

 pp. 11-16. 



On the Osteology of the Woodpeckers. By R. W. Shufeldt, M. D. Proc. 

 Am. Phil. Soc. Phila., XXXIX, No. 164, pp. 578-622, pi. ix. 



On the Osteology of the Striges. (Strigidae and Bubonidaj). By R. W. 

 Shufeldt, M. D. Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, XXXIX, No. 164, pp. 665-722, pll. 

 x-xvii. 



