VO, 'lfl^ XI1 ] Recent Literature. 247 



the extent of his observations. No factor that could possibly affect flight 

 seems to have been overlooked and data have been collected in regard to 

 meteorology and along other side lines with as much care as in studying 

 the actions of the birds. A clever method of plotting the track of a bird 

 soaring high in air was devised by tracing the movements of the bird on 

 the surface of a horizontal mirror, with copying ink, from which impres- 

 sions could readily be transferred to paper. A series of dots, instead of a 

 continuous line, each dot corresponding to the tick of a metronome, gave 

 in addition, the speed of the bird when the altitude had been ascertained. 

 The book is well worthy of the attention of every one interested in bird 

 flight, whether or not he be inclined to supply the explanations which Dr. 

 Hankin refrained from attempting, and unlike most treatises on flight it 

 will be found entirely free from technical terms or mathematical formulae. — 

 W. S. 



Snethlage's ' Catalogue of the Birds of Amazonia.' ' — Dr. 



Snethlage's contributions to the ornithology of the Amazon region are well 

 known to students of neotropical birds and her knowledge of the entire 

 avifauna as well as her familiarity with many parts of the country fit her 

 admirably for the task which she has just brought to a conclusion. 



The catalogue consists of the technical and vernacular name of each 

 species with references, a statement of range, a list of the specimens in 

 the Museu Gceldi, with localities, and a description of the male and female. 

 Under each genus is a key to the species, and under orders and families, 

 keys respectively to the families and genera. Plates of the heads and feet 

 of representatives of the principal groups accompany the general key to the 

 orders. The work is, as will be noticed, intended to serve two purposes — - 

 as a manual for resident bird students and as a work of reference for 

 ornithologists in other parts of the world. 



The text is naturally in Portuguese, but this does not detract from its 

 value to foreign ornithologists, since to them the descriptions are of the least 

 importance, and the localities and ranges are easily made out. 



There are 1117 species included in the Catalogue which forms a most 

 valuable contribution to South American ornithology. The recent 

 activity in the study of South American birds has reached a stage where 

 faunal works of this sort are badly needed to bring into systematic order 

 the scattered work of numerous writers. 



Dr. Snethlage writes us that the work was published in Germany and the 

 copies intended for the American correspondents of the Museum were 

 held in Hamburg when the war broke out. She requests us to announce 

 that these will be forwarded as soon as possible. — W. S. 



1 Catalogo das Aves Amazonicas contendo todas as especies descriptas e men- 

 cionadas ate 1913 pela Dr. Emilia Snethlage (com 6 estampas e 1 mappa). 

 Boletim do Museu Goeldi (Museu Paraense) de Hist. Nat. e Ethnogr. Tomo 

 viii, 1911/12. Para, Brazil. 1914. pp. 1-530. 



