1920 j Recent Literature. ooD 



Harper, Francis. A New Subspecies of Prunella inodularis from the 

 Pyrenees. (Ibid. pp. 243-244, December 31, 1919.)— P. m. mabbotti 

 (p. 243), Saillagouse, France. 



Wetmore, Alexander. A Note on the Eye of the Black Skimmer 

 (Rynchops nigra). (Ibid. p. 195, December 31, 1919.) — The pupil was 

 found to contract in sunlight to a narrow vertical slit as in the eye of the 

 cat, a peculiarity unique among birds in the experience of the writer. 



Lincoln, F. C. Some Notes on the Plumage of the Male Florida 

 Red-wing (Agelaius p. floridanus). (Ibid. p. 196, December 31, 1919.) 

 Apparently adult birds but with undeveloped sexual organs had the red 

 shoulder patches very poorly developed and the general appearance of 

 the plumage dull. 



Swales, B. H. A Former Record of the Heath Hen (Tympanuchus 

 cupido) at Washington, D. C. (Ibid. p. 198, December 31, 1919.) — Based 

 wholly upon an entry by Prof. Baird of a specimen, since destroyed, re- 

 corded as secured at Washington, April 10, 1846, by Dr. Alex. McWilliams. 



Oberholser, H. C. Pagophila ehurnea versus Pagophila alba. (Ibid. 

 p. 199, December 31, 1919.) — Upholds the applicability of Larus albus 

 Gunnerus. 



Oberholser, H. C. The Status of the Genus Asarcia Sharpe. (Ibid. 

 p. 200, December 31, 1919.) — Regards it as a full genus instead as a sub- 

 genus of Jacana as usually held. 



Oberholser, H. C. The Names of the Subfamilies of Scolopacidae. 

 (Ibid. p. 200, December 31, 1919.) — Agrees with Lowe as to the recogni- 

 tion of three subfamilies but would change the names of them to Scolo- 

 pacinae, Canutinae and Numeniinae. 



Oberholser, H. C. Notes on the Names of Halobaena caerulea and 

 Prion ti tatus. (Ibid. p. 201, December 31, 1919.) — Differs from Mathews 

 in regarding Forster's Procellaria vittata as a tenable name for the "Blue 

 Petrel," which therefore becomes Halobaena vittata. This of course pre- 

 cludes the use of Gmelin's Procellaria vittata of later date, for the Prion 

 which must become Prion forsteri. 



Oberholser, H. C. Mutanda Ornithologica. VIII. (Hid. pp. 239- 

 240, December 31, 1919.) — Turdus sordidus Midler being an older name 

 for Pitta atricapilla, it must become P. sordida. Riparia paludicola 

 sinensis being preoccupied becomes R. p. chinensis (Gray). Stoparola 

 melanops for the same reason becomes S. thalassina (Sw.), while Hemipus 

 obscurus becomes H. hirundinaceus (Temm.) and Tachyphonus rujiventris 

 will be known as T. metallactus nom. nov. (p. 240). 



Ober, E. H. The Life History of the Sage Hen. (California Fish 

 and Game, January, 1920.) 



Gunthorp, Horace. Bird Collections for Colleges and High Schools. 

 (School and Society, VII, May 1918). — Suggests the use of colored pic- 

 tures of birds for seasonal exhibits of birds present at a given locality 

 as a substitute for a collection of the birds themselves. 



