286 General Notes. [$g 



utmost possible stability for names of higher groups, it may be con- 

 tended to be inadvisable to change family or subfamily names which 

 have been founded upon generic terms now held as subgeneric ; while 

 still restricting the proper formation of such names to terms which have 

 generic rank at the time of such formation. 



If the former, however, be the proper view, it is in order to inquire 

 why we still retain the family name Podicipida? for the Grebes, while 

 Podicefs continues to hold but subgeneric rank. The proper name for 

 the group is probably Colymbida?, as has already been announced by 

 Dr. Stejneger (Stand. Nat. Hist., IV, 1885, p. 66). By the same criterion 

 Phalerina? is untenable, being based upon PJialeris, a subgenus of Sitn- 

 orhynchus, and if it be still deemed advisable to retain a subfamily dis- 

 tinction apart from the Fraterculinse, may possibly best be called Sim- 

 orhynchinse. Then, too, so long as Fuligula stands only as a subgenus, 

 the subfamily designation Fuligulina? must be displaced. There are, 

 however, structural characters quite sufficient to entitle Fuligula to full 

 generic rank, — characters too well known to require enumeration in 

 this connection, and which now receive due recognition almost univer- 

 sally except among American ornithologists. — Harry C. Oberholser, 

 Washington, D. C. 



'Revival of the Sexual Passion in Birds in Autumn.'— In addition to 

 the notes of Messrs. Brewster and Chapman which have lately appeared 

 in ' The Auk' on the above subject the following observations may be of 

 interest. From my Journal for September 2, 1898, Jamestown, R. I., I 

 copy the following: — "This morning a number of Purple Martins 

 (Progne sub is) were seen alighting on the rigging of the small boats 

 anchored in the harbor, they being not uncommon here early in Sep- 

 tember; later in the morning they were in good numbers (15 or 20 birds) 

 along the roadsides in company with the Tree Swallows. The Martins 

 almost always alighted on the cross bars of the telegraph poles, rather 

 than with the Swallows on the wires. While I was watching two birds, 

 supposedlv young, they were seen a number of times to go through the 

 actions of copulation." 



Another record was made on September 15, 1S98. — "While sitting in 

 the blind (Jamestown, R. I., Round Marsh) a Sharp-tailed Sparrow 

 (Ammodramus caudacutus) came and lit near by and performed some 

 interesting antics. The bird would now and then utter a few hurried 

 notes, run a few feet and jump excitedly into the air. The bird also 

 from time to time (five times) went through the actions of copulation 

 on a little, cropped off tussock of grass about the size of its body. I was 

 within a few feet of the bird, being protected by the blind, and am posi- 

 tive that its actions were those of copulation. Possibly this bird was 

 mentallv deranged. I took the bird and found it to be a young male, its 

 sexual organs of normal size for that time of season. Two interesting 

 questions present themselves. Is the accompaning non-enlargement of 



