X920 J Recent Literature. b09 



have been differentiated on the islands from the F. coelebs stock and the 

 only other alternative is that the mainland stock which originally con- 

 tributed their ancestors to the islands must have become extinct or is 

 now represented by a few lingering individuals in some remote retreat 

 not yet discovered. Space forbids further discussion of the interesting 

 problems touched upon by the author and his paper should be read in its 

 entirity by those who are interested in geographical distribution. 



A map and two colored plates, one of the Chaffinches and one of the 

 Titmice, illustrate the paper which is one of the most carefully prepared 

 and philosophic that has recently appeared. The author states in his 

 closing paragraph that "nine-tenths of the value of a collection of birds 

 is to be found in the deductions which we can make from it," and he is 

 to be heartily congratulated upon the excellent way in which he has 

 demonstrated the value of his own collection according to this maxim. — 

 W. S. 



Mathews' 'The Bird of Australia.' 1 — The last parts of Mr. Mathews' 

 great work continue the treatment of the Muscicapidae, covering the 

 Australian "Robins," the "Tree Tits," "Fly-eaters," etc. In his system- 

 atic consideration of these birds the author follows his usual practice of 

 excessive generic subdivision. In the treatment of subspecies he has 

 improved very decidedly upon the method followed in some of the earlier 

 parts by giving a concise statement of exactly how many races he recog- 

 nizes under each species. We notice the following new forms described 

 in the present parts, i. e., Smicrornis brevirostris mallee (p. 132), Malee. 

 Victoria, and Wilsonavis richmondi gouldiana (p. 143), Gosford, N. S. 

 Wales in Part 2; and Ethelorms cairnensis robini (p. 151) Cape York; E. 

 laevigaster intermissus (p. 160) Melville Isl., E. 1. perconfusus (p. 161) So. 

 N. W. Australia, and E. cantator weatherelli (p. 164) in Part 3. 



Leavitt's 'Bird Study in Elementary Schools.' — Bulletin No. 4 of 

 the National Association of x\udubon Societies 2 consists of a concise sum- 

 mary of such information as the teacher who desires to introduce bird 

 study in some form into the school course, will require. The bulletin is 

 by Dr. Robert G. Leavitt of the New Jersey State Normal School and 

 seems admirably adapted to its purpose. The economic principle of bird 

 protection is outlined as well as the interest, pleasure and moral effect of 

 the study. Practical instructions to the teacher follow, methods of form- 

 ing Audubon Clubs, school museums, how to attract birds and how and 



> The Birds of Australia by Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. VIII, Part 2. June 

 17. 1920, pp. 81-144. Part 3. August 18, 1920, pp. 145-184. London, Witherby 

 & Co., 326 High Holborn. 



2 Bird Study in Elementary Schools. Bulletin No. 4. By Robert G Leavitt, 

 Ph.D., Head of the Department of Biology, New Jersey State Normal School at 

 Trenton. National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New 

 York. Price, twenty-five cents. 192 pp. 44. 



