284 Recent Literature. \_U^ 



quantitative methods, he believes that the problems of race distinction 

 "need the precision of the Precise Criterion." 



" The contention," he continues, " that quantitative methods are less 

 useful than those ordinarily employed because of the large amount of 

 material required, is mischievous, for it argues that generalizations pro- 

 fessing precision are possible by methods that are not precise," and the 

 present tendency of hair splitting aiuong certain ornithologists is timely 

 and well -warranted. If the hair splitters were compelled to adopt the 

 laborious method of the ' precise criterion' system, it would doubtless 

 prove a wholesome check upon their prolificness. In the matter of nam- 

 ing geographical forms which in many cases at least, will ultimately be 

 relegated to the limbo synonymy.— J. A. A. 



Stone ' On Moult and Alleged Colour-change in Birds.' ' — This paper is 

 a reply to some criticisms of Mr. Stone's paper on inoull, published in 

 the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy in 1896, by Mr. J. L. Bon- 

 hote in 'The Ibis ' for October 1900. Mr. Stone maintains an admirable 

 attitude in reference to the advocates of direct change of pigment in 

 mature feathers, and his statements should do much toward encouraging 

 a careful consideration of the subject by his critics. Mr. Stone says : 

 " ' It has now been demo?tstrated that at least many (and apparently all) 

 individuals of every species of bird in Eastern North America which 

 undergoes a spring change of plumage accomplish that change by a moult. 

 If the same thing is not true of European birds, we have certainly a 

 strange state of affairs.' " Mr. Stone very justly complains that the 

 papers of Mr. Bonhote and others who defend color change are lacking in 

 respect to data as to the condition of the specimens examined. 



Mr. Stone's paper, in fact, is a brief summary of the results attained by 

 investigations on this side of the Atlantic in reference to how birds 

 acquire the colors of the nuptial dress, and of the methods employed in 

 these investigations. It would seem that this candid statement of the case 

 should lead to careful consideration of the evidence supposed to be antag- 

 onistic to the results obtained by extended and careful study of the sub- 

 ject by American ornithologists. — J. A. A. 



Seton-Thompson and Hoffmann's 'Bird Portraits.'- — 'Bird Portraits' 

 consists of 20 half-tone reproductions of drawings by Ernest Seton-Tliomp- 

 son, with descriptive text by Mr. Hoffmann. The birds whose portraits 

 are here given consist of the following species : Song Sparrow, Flicker, 



1 On Moult and Alleged Colour-change in Birds. By Witmer Stone. The 

 Ibis, April, 1901, pp. 177-183. 



^ Bird Portraits | By Ernest Seton-Thompson | With Descriptive Text | By 

 Ralph Hoffmann | Boston | Ginn & Company | The Athenoeum Press | 1901 

 — 4to, pp. 40, with 20 half-tone plates. 



