212 Recent Literattire \_a^^\ 



metatarsal of Picoidcs is present, though concealed oeneath the skin, as 

 noted bv Beddard. 



The ' Osteology of the Striges ' is not up to the standard of the paper 

 on the Woodpeckers, for the descriptive matter is too long and too much 

 scattered to be readily used ; moreover we lack the summarj^ of characters 

 at the end, this not being compensated for by the fact that the main 

 characters are given on tvio or three pages at the outset. — F. A. L. 



Chapman on the Genus Sturnella.^ — With the aid of a much larger 

 series of specimens than has been available to previous writers on the 

 subject, Mr. Chapman has been able to furnish the most valuable con- 

 tribution to the history of this perplexing genus that has yet appeared. 

 After characterizing the various races of Meadowlarks hitherto de- 

 scribed, and pointing out the striking differences between the arid 

 {neglecia) and the humid {viag..a) groups, the author considers the ques- 

 tion of inter-relationships between the two. His conclusions are that the 

 two groups were originally evolved in Mexico, 7ieglecta occupying the 

 table land and magna the lower humid areas, their relationships here 

 being simph- that of well marked geographic races. 



Subsequently the two spread northward, tteglccia covering the west- 

 ern United States and ntagtia the eastern region. Still later the 

 two forms, which in the north were quite distinct, have converged and 

 intermingled, thus accounting for the presence of typical magna and 

 neglecia, as well as intei-mediates or ' hybrids ', side by side in Minnesota 

 and Texas, a fact which is well established. 



Due credit is given throughout the paper to Mr. E. W. Nelson, whose 

 careful collecting in Mexico has cleared up the obscurity which had 

 previously prevailed as to the relationships of the two forms in the south. 



In emphasizing the fact that the main difference between the magna 

 and neglccta groups is one of depth of color Mr. Chapman points out 

 that the form recently described as 5. magna hoopesi should be associated 

 with the latter in spite of the extent of yellow on the sides of the throat. 

 Unless it is deemed advisable to consider the above groups as represent- 

 ing two distinct species, no change in nomenclature is necessary. 



Several interesting half-tones from photographs of skins and feathers 

 illustrate the paper, and show clearly the contrast between the light and 

 dark birds. — W. S. 



Eaton's ' Birds of Western New York.' - — Mr. Eaton's list relates to 

 "the western portion of New York State, extending eastward through 

 the ' Finger Lake ' region," and consisting of three east and west belts, 



^A Study of the Genus Sturnella. By Frank M. Chapman, Bull. Am. 

 Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIH, 1900, pp. 297-320. 



^ Birds of Western New York. By Elon Howard Eaton. Proc. Rochester 

 Acad., Vol. IV, pp. 1-64. Feb. 15, 1901. 



