366 Recent Literature. LJuly 



Urospatha martii olivacea (p. 108), Moyobamba, Peru; Nephcecetes niger 

 guadeloupensis (p. 143); Guadeloupe Island; Lepidopyga goudoti zulice 

 (p. 182), Rio Aurare, W. Venezuela; Colibri iolatus brevipennis (p. 210), 

 Caracas, Venezuela. 



While we have not had an opportunity to test out the accuracy of the 

 references they appear to have been carefully compiled and we have little 

 doubt but that Mr. Cory's ' Catalogue ' will prove to be an indispensable 

 reference work to all who study neotropical bird-life. It is well printed, 

 the type well selected and the arrangement clear and easily understood. 

 Let us hope that nothing may hinder the appearance of the succeeding 

 parts upon which Mr. Cory is now engaged. — W. S. 



McAtee's ' Sketch of the Natural History of the District of Colum- 

 bia.' 1 — There is no more important point in connection with the study of 

 local natural history than for the student to have a clear idea of the relation 

 of the fauna and flora to the environment and to appreciate just where 

 his immediate locality stands in the classification of the larger zoogeo- 

 graphic or phytogeographic areas as well as to know where to find the local 

 literature. We often find admirable discussions of the faunal relations 

 of the western states or of remote foreign countries, but concise accounts of 

 the general features controlling the distribution of plants and animals in the 

 neighborhood of the larger centers of population in the eastern states, are 

 much harder to obtain. Such a work, therefore, as Mr. McAtee has con- 

 ceived and carried to completion deserves the highest commendation, 

 and should stimulate the preparation of similar sketches for other centers 

 of natural history study. 



The first half of the " sketch " consists of an historical account of natu- 

 ral history study in the vicinity of Washington with local bibliographies 

 for the botany, insects, other invertebrates, fishes, reptiles and batrachians, 

 birds, mammals and early history of man. The second part discusses 

 the distribution of life in the region under the following heads: ' The 

 Piedmont Plateau and Coastal Plain as Faunal and Floral Provinces ' ; 

 ' Magnolia Bogs near Washington, D. C, and their Relations to the Pine 

 Barrens ' ; ' Other Types of Collecting Grounds in the District of Columbia 

 Region ' ; and ' The Upper Potomac Region.' Following this is the index 

 to the accompanying map with a bibliography of maps, historical works, 

 etc., from which the locality names were compiled. The bird portion 

 consists of an interesting historical sketch and a list of fifteen papers. 



This publication we notice is the first of a new series — ' Bulletins ' — 

 of the Biological Society which, if the present issue is a sample of what is to 

 come, will be well worth while. — W. S. 



1 A Sketch of the Natural History of the District of Columbia together with an Indexed 

 Edition of the U. S. Geological Survey's 1917 Map of Washington and Vicinity. By 

 W. L. McAtee. Bull. Biological Society, Wash., No. 1. May, 1918. pp. 1-142 with map- 

 Cm folder). Price $2.00, postpaid $2.15. 



