d.^4. Recent Literature. () " 



k 

 )ct. 



able, the adult males are indistinguishable* As it stands, even with the 

 explanation, it has little relevancy or raison d'etre. 



11 j. Characters -which are notoriously variable in a given group ought 

 not, within that group, to be made the basis of a new name. 



"As an example of what is meant by this principle, the common star- 

 fishes (Aslerias forbesi and vulgaris) of the New England coast may be 

 cited. Their color is so remarkably variable that it would be follv to form 

 subspecies based upon the color alone. 



"6. Characters which may be fairly interpreted either as individual 

 peculiarities or as dichromatic diversity, ought not to be made the basis 

 of a new name. 



"If this principle were honestly followed many new species and sub- 

 species would be cancelled, and it would lead to much greater caution in 

 basing new names upon single individuals. 



"The above six principles are suggested, not with any idea that they 

 will meet with universal approval, but in the hope that they may pre- 

 cipitate a discussion which will lead to definite results. At some not 

 far-distant day let us trust, the charge of basing new names upon 

 'distinctions without a difference' will be one that cannot be brought 

 legitimately against American zoologists." 



Respecting "5" and "6," little need be said; they are certainly harmless, 

 if not very helpful, for no experienced ' systematist ' is likely to violate 

 either. 



The concluding paragraph of Mr. Clark's paper is given as clearly 

 showing his good intentions. This republication of his paper in full, 

 and the running comment thereon, may be taken as an attempt to comply 

 with his desire that it "may precipitate discussion which will lead to 

 definite results." — J. A. A. 



Mascha's 'The Structure of Wing- Feathers. — This is an account 1 of an 

 investigation by Dr. E. Mascha, under the direction of Professor R. von 

 Lendenfeld of the Imperial German University in Prague, with the object 

 of giving "a detailed account of the morphology of the wing-feathers of 

 birds as used in flight," made with the hope of Supplying "needed and 

 valuable information for those interested in the great problem of aerial 

 navigation." It is based on the examination of the quills of about 25 

 species, belonging to about a dozen orders, and comprising birds of most 

 types of flight. Their histological structure is described in detail, ami 

 illustrated by figures grouped to form 16 plates. The text has apparently 

 suffered in translation from the original German manuscript (to be pub- 

 lished in the 'Zeitschrift fur wissenschaflliche Zoologie,' here and there 

 occurring terms and sentences by no means clearly expressed. At the end 

 of the paper a ' summary of results' is given, in sixteen short para- 



1 The Structure of Wing-Feathers. By Dr. E. Mascha. Smithsonian Misc. 

 Coll., Quarterly Issue, Vol. Ill, pp. 1-30, pll. i-xvi. May 6, 1905. 



