V °!'8^ VI ] Recent Literature. 203 



justly, though it is odd that the type should have been taken at San Bias, 

 Mexico, " August 9," this being on Aleutian Island and Kamchatkan 

 species. Phaleris Temmirick, 1S20, is restored for the Paroquet Auklet 

 in place of Cyclorrhynchus Kaup, 1829, although Stejneger (Orn. Expl. 

 in Commander Isls., 1855, p. 38) has pretty clearly shown that Alca pyg- 

 mcea Gm. must be regarded as the type of Phaleris. But these are 

 mainly points where differences of opinion are liable to occur — -we fear 

 for a long time to come. — J. A. A. 



Evans's ' Birds'.' — In a well illustrated volume of some 600 pages Mr. 

 Evans has attempted to give "a short description of the majority of the 

 forms in many of the Families, and of the most typical or important of 

 the innumerable species included in the large Passerine Order." This is 

 preceded by an introductory chapter of some 20 pages on the structural 

 peculiarities of birds, their classification, geographical distribution, 

 migration, etc. Mr. Evans follows Dr. Gadow's scheme of classification, 

 "with some slight modifications." He begins with the Archseornithes 

 and ends with the Passere, the final family of the series being the Fringil- 

 lidre. The work being intended as a popular treatise on the Class Aves, 

 the more strictly technical phases of the subject have been avoided, as also 

 the discussion of disputed questions. The work is prepared in a conserva- 

 tive spirit, without attempt at fine writing, and without stating as fact 

 the many theories and conjectures that have received almost unqualified 

 endorsement in some of the recent 'popular' books on birds, bird migra- 

 tion, and kindred subjects. A general account is given of each family, 

 with an enumeration of many of its principal forms, and brief|reference to 

 their distribution and characteristic traits. The text is fully illustrated 

 with, for the most part, excellent wood cuts. A large part are admira- 

 ble figures by Mr. G. E. Lodge, prepared especially for the present work, 

 while others are by Smit, or from other sources, and are thus not 

 unfamiliar through previous use in other connections. The volume as 

 a whole is entitled to high commendation, and will prove of great con- 

 venience as a general account of the principal forms of bird life, both 

 recent and extinct. — J. A. A. 



Von Ihering's Birds of San Paulo, Brazil. 2 — This enumeration of the 

 birds of the State of Sao Paulo is based on the collections of the Museu 



1 Birds J By A. H. Evans, M. A., Clare College, Cambridge | London | 

 Macmillan and Co.. Limited | New York: The Macmillan Company | 1899 | 

 All rights reserved | — 8vo, pp. xvi ■+• 635, 2 maps, and 144 text figures. = The 

 Cambridge Natural History, Vol. IX. — Price $3.50. 



" As Aves do Estado de S. Paulo. Por. H. von Ihering. Revista do Museu 

 Paulista, Anno III, 1S99, pp. 113-476. 



