160 Recent Literature. [j" n 



crypta (p. 209), Makemo; C. a. agassizi (p. 210), Apataki; C. a. nesiarcha 

 (p. 210), Rangiroa; C. a. erema (p. 211), Makatea — all in the Paumotu 

 Group; C. percernis (p. 213), Nukuhiva, Marquesas Isls.; Pinarolestes 

 nesiotes (p. 216), Kambara, Fijis; and Myzomela rubrata dichromata (p. 

 220), Ponape Isl., Eastern Carolines. There were also three new forms of 

 Collocalia in the collection which were described by H. C. Oberholser in 

 1906. On page 201, Mr. Wetmore proposes a new generic name Haplornis 

 in place of Muscylva Lesson. He gives an exhaustive history of the latter 

 genus and its applications, and in order to eliminate it and avoid the com- 

 plications which its use would involve he designates as its type Muscicapa 

 cccrulea Gmel., thus fixing it in the synonymy of Hypothymis Boie. This 

 is very commendable but he fails to designate any type for his new genus 

 and being admittedly a substitute for Muscylva it may be argued that it 

 falls with it. In the hope that it may be saved from such a fate we would 

 designate Rhipidura lessoni Gray as its type which seems to have been Mr. 

 Wetmore's intention. 



Incidentally the author shows that Mathews' proposed genus Scao- 

 phaethon is not deserving of recognition and that the correct name for the 

 Red-faced Booby is as generally recognized Sula piscator, not S. sula as 

 claimed by Mathews. (See however p. 180 of this 'Auk '.) 



This paper is a valuable contribution to Polynesian ornithology and in 

 the constant recurrence of specific names accredited to Titian Peale we are 

 forcibly reminded of the historic United States Exploring expedition which 

 touched on many of these same islands in 1S38-1S12 . — W. S. 



Coker on the Guano Birds of Peru. 1 — The study of bird communities 

 constitutes one of the most fascinating branches of ornithology and as 

 the community that Mr. Coker describes in the present paper is one of 

 the largest known in the world a peculiar interest attaches to his account. 

 Engaged by the Peruvian government to make an economic study of the 

 guano and fishery industries he spent the period from December, 1906 to 

 August, 1908, on the coastal islands enjoying unrivalled opportunities for 

 the study of the life histories of the various species of birds which breed 

 there, and the present report embodies the results of his observations. 



These Peruvian islands have long been noted for the remarkable deposits 

 of guano left there by the nesting birds and its exportation for agricul- 

 tural purposes has been going on for centuries. Some idea of the extent 

 of the industry may be gathered when we learn that from 1851 to 1872 

 no less than ten million tons of high grade guano were extracted from the 

 Chincha Islands alone, valued at the time at about three-quarters of a 

 billion dollars. At the present time the high grade deposits have be e n 

 well nigh exhausted and inferior deposits are being exported. This, how- 



1 Habits and Economic Relations of the Guano Birds of Peru. By Robert E. Coker. 

 In charge Scientific Inquiry, United States Bureau of Fisheries. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

 Vol. 56, pp. 449-511, plates 53-69. 1919. 



