VoL S XVI1 ] Recent Literature. 319 



the last head we notice that the contributions are signed only with the 

 initials of the authors, a practice which sanctioned by custom in the case 

 of reviews is certainly open to criticism in the case of scientific contribu- 

 tions. 



In looking over the various records we wonder if the observer of the 

 Connecticut Warbler in May fully realized the excessive rarity of this 

 species in the east, in spring, or was familiar with the plumage of the fe- 

 male Mourning Warbler which has a more or less conspicuous eye-ring 

 and bears a striking resemblance to the Connecticut. Mr. Brewster's 

 statement that there was not a single spring record of the bird in any part 

 of Massachusetts in which he had full confidence, is significant. 



We wish the Essex County Club every success and trust that the present 

 publication is the forerunner of a series of valuable bulletins upon the 

 bird life of the district.— W. S. 



Hollister's Account of the National Zoo. 1 — In the Report of the 

 Smithsonian Institution for 1917, published in 1919, there is an admirable 

 popular account of the animals in the National Zoological Park, prepared 

 by the director, Mr. Ned Hollister. It is fully illustrated by half-tones 

 from photographs and a number of these are devoted to the birds, the 

 Californian Condor, Whistling and Trumpeter Swans being among the 

 more notable of the North American species. Among foreign . species 

 figured are the Horned Screamer, Cape Barren Goose — inadvertantly 

 marked "Barren Ground Goose" — Black and Mute Swans, etc. 



This pamphlet should serve an excellent purpose in producing a more 

 intelligent interest in foreign birds and mammals. The great trouble with 

 American systematic zoologists until quite recently has been that they 

 have dealt almost exclusively with North American species and the broad- 

 ening of the field in the present generation is most encouraging. In 

 furthering this tendency our zoological gardens offer the best opportunities 

 but too often there is a lack of accessible information about the mammals 

 and birds that may be on exhibition. Mr. Hollister's "popular account" 

 furnishes just what is needed, and may lead many a young student to a 

 wider study of mammalogy and ornithology than he would otherwise 

 have followed. — W. S. 



Cory's Review of the Genus Rhynchocyclus. 2 — In this useful paper 

 Mr. Cory gives the results of his study of the specimens belonging to 

 this genus in the collection of the Field Museum of Natural History. 



1 The National Zoological Park: A Popular Account of Its Collections. By 

 Ned Hollister. From the Smithsonian Report for 1917, pages 543-593, with 46 

 plates. Washington, 1919. 



2 The Relationships and Geographical Distribution of the Species and Races 

 belonging to the Genus Rhynchocyclus. Proc. Biological Society of Washington. 

 Vol. 32, pp. 217-224. December 31, 1919. By Charles B. Cory. 



