428 



Recent Literature. [q"^ 



some of which are here recorded for the first time from these islands, two 

 are described as new and descriptions are given of previously unknown 

 plumages of others. Nominal lists follow the general list, giving the 

 species observed on each island. 



The second paper is of a similar character, and relates to the islands 

 Ticao, Cuyo, Culion, Calavan, Lubang, and Luzon, and are supplemen- 

 tary to previous papers on collections from these islands. This relates 

 to i$ species, including two described as new and interesting notes on 

 the nesting habits of the Panay Hornbill (Penelofiides fanini) and the 

 nesting habits of several of the Philippine Swifts. 



The eleven half-tone plates illustrate the mound of Megapodius cumingi 

 (two plates), the nests and eggs of several species of swifts (genus Salan- 

 gana), the nest and eggs of the Panay Hornbill, and a species of Cisti- 

 cola. — J. A. A. 



Hartert's ' Die Vogel der palaarktischen Fauna,' Heft III. — The third 

 part 1 of Dr. Hartert's Birds of the Pahearctic Fauna carries the species 

 and subspecies from No. 394 to 629 — from about the middle of the 

 Alaudids through the families Motacillidae, Mniotiltidie (three extralimi- 

 tal species), Nectariniidse, Zosteropidre, Certhiida?, Sittidse, and the greater 

 part of Paridse. The method of treatment is of course uniform with 

 that of the preceding parts (cf. Auk, XXI, 1904, pp. 95 and 505), showing 

 similar conservatism in respect to genera and the same proneness to fine 

 splitting in respect to subspecies. Especially noticeable also is the ten- 

 dency to combine allied forms as subspecies, sometimes apparently with- 

 out satisfactory reasons therefor, as where Parus sclateri of Mexico is 

 made a subspecies of Parus palu.-tris, although separated geographically 

 by thousands of miles from the range of any other member of the group. 

 Similarly a form of Nuthatch from Corsica and another from northern 

 China are made subspecies of Sitta canadensis. Ten palrearctic forms of 

 titmice are referred to Parus atricapillus, including the whole P. mon- 

 tanus group, and a number of others. The author apparently has no use 

 for subgenera, all of the palsearctic subgenera of Parus, recognized by 

 Hellmavr in his recent excellent monograph of the Panda?, being merged 

 in Parus. In short, our author's treatment of this and allied families is 

 far less satisfactory, and less consistent and rational, than the recent 

 revision of these groups by Hellmayr. Hartert includes under Parus 93 

 palrearctic forms, of which 20 rank as species and of which 8 have no sub- 

 species, leaving 73 subspecies tinder the other 12 species, or an average 



1 Die Vogel | der palaarktischen Fauna. | Systematisclie Ubersicht | der | in 

 Europa, Nord Asien und der Mettelmeerregion | vorkommenden Vogel. | 

 Von I Dr. Ernst Hartert. | Heft III. | Seite 241-384. | Mit 16 Abbildungen. 

 I — I Berlin. | Verlag von R. Friedlander und Sohn. | Ausgegeben im Juni 

 1905. — 8vo, pp. 241-3S4. Price 4 marks. 



