dlb Recent Literature. [April 



conidae and Picidae, bringing the catalogue down to the Passerine fam- 

 ilies. The pagination, it will be noticed, is continuous with the first half 

 of the part and the present instalment has an index to all the genera 

 and species listed, as well as addenda and errata to the first part of the 

 publication. 



The general style of the work follows closely that of the first instal- 

 ment but there are a number of new forms described of which there is 

 no list and they could easily be overlooked in a casual examination of 

 the volume. The propriety of publishing new names in this manner has 

 already been discussed in these columns and we shall only add that where 

 the practice is followed there shoidd be a list of the new forms given some- 

 where in the publication. A painstaking search through the pages dis- 

 covers the following, though it is possible that some have been overlooked : 

 Coccyzus minor caymanensis (p. 336), Grand Cayman; Nystalus maculatus 

 nuchalis (p. 398), Soroplex campestris cearae (p. 414), Chrysoptilus melano- 

 chlorns juae (p. 444), all from Ceara, Brazil; Celeus elegans approximans 

 (p. 450), Boa Vista, Amazonia; Chrysoptilus melanolaemus perplexus 

 (p. 442), Conchitas, Buenos Aires; Chrysoptilus punctigula notata (p. 446), 

 "Colombia" and Crocomorphus flavus peruvianus (p. 457), Lagunas, Peru. 



The propriety of basing a new name on a specimen with no more de- 

 tailed locality than "Colombia," in these days of minute accuracy, is 

 certainly open to criticism as it will prove a hindrance to anyone else 

 working upon the genus Chrysoptilus. The "provisional" naming of 

 another form (perplexus), which is not recognized in the list proper, in 

 case the "differences prove constant," is also against present-day prac- 

 tices. A name that is once published with a description is established 

 for all time, no matter whether it is properly and conspicuously printed 

 or proposed provisionally and buried in a foot-note, and the author who 

 adopts the latter method at once exposes himself to criticism. 



Mr. Cory has done an important and tedious piece of work in bringing 

 out this volume and it will be of great use to all who are interested in the 

 avifauna of the New World. We happen to know that he has already 

 made considerable progress on the next part and we trust that it will not 

 be long before it is ready for the press and that the Field Museum will 

 be able to carry on a publication which is of so much importance to all 

 systematic ornithologists. — W. S. 



Witherby's Handbook of British Birds. 1 — Part 6 of this important 

 work, comprising pages 337-400, was issued January 12, 1920, and covers 

 the warblers and part of the thrushes. One half-tone plate illustrates 

 each group and there are a number of text cuts of wings, tails, etc. The 



1 A Practical Handbook of British Birds. Edited by H. F. Witherby. London, 

 Witherby & Co., 326 High Holborn, W. C. I. Part 6, Jan. 12, 1920. Price 4s, 

 net per part. 



