602 Recent Literature. [<"\. 



Picolaptes affinis lignicida (p. 26), Tamaulipas, Mexico; Saltator striati- 

 pictusfurax (p. 32), W. Costa Rica, and S. s. speratus (p. 33), Pearl Islands, 

 Panama, and Cissilopha sariblasiana nelsoni (p. 40), Colima, Mexico. Tana- 

 gra lauta (p. 35) is proposed for the well-known " Euphonia hirundinacea " 

 auct., which proved not to be Lesson's bird, and T. I. proba (p. 35) is pro- 

 posed for T. gnatho auct. nee Licht., while the new generic name Cnemo- 

 scopus (p. 38) is established for Arremon rubrirostris Lafr. 



Mr. Bangs 1 has also recently separated the Philippine Striated Grass 

 Warbler as a new form, Megalurus palustris forbesi (p. 61). — W. S. 



Cassinia for 1918. - — This publication of the Delaware Valley Orni- 

 thological Club contains an article on the birthplace of John Cassin by 

 F. H. Shelton, with a half-tone illustration of the Cassin homestead, while 

 some additional notes regarding the life of the ornithologist are presented, 

 showing that his interest in natural history, especially botany, had been 

 well developed even during his school days. 



Extracts from an old manuscript journal of a Swedish missionary, 

 Andreas Hesselius, compiled some years ago by Charles J. Pennock, form the 

 other leading article and give observations on bird life, etc., in the vicinity 

 of Wilmington, Del., in 1711. This manuscript is one of the very earliest 

 contributions to the ornithology of the Delaware Valley. 



The usual migration report is presented as well as the Abstract of Pro- 

 ceedings and Bibliography. The Club had twenty-five of its members 

 in the national service and was forced by war conditions to cancel some of 

 its meetings, but it managed to keep up its regular activities, and is now in a 

 more prosperous condition than before. — W. S. 



Gladstone's 'Birds and the War.' 3 — Mr. Gladstone's aim in this 

 little book is to present such information as he was able to gather during 

 the four years of the European War regarding its effect upon and relation 

 to bird life. The subject is far more complicated than one would at first 

 imagine, as can be seen from a glance at the chapter headings of the work. 

 These are grouped under four titles: (1) Utility of Birds, as messengers, 

 crop protectors and food; (2) Suffering of Birds in the War, captive birds, 

 sea birds and effect of air craft and air raids; (3) Behaviour of Birds in the 

 War Zone; (4) Effect of the War on Birds, migration and change of habits. 



As we glance through the pages of this interesting little volume we learn 

 that during some engagements as many as a thousand homing pigeons were 

 used by the British to carry messages and that the birds frequently flew 



1 A New Striated Grass Warbler from the Philippines. By Outram Bangs. Proc. New 

 England Zool. Club. Vol. VII, pp. 5-G. June 6, 1919. 



■ Cassinia. A Bird Annual. Proceedings of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. 

 1918 [April, 1919], pp. 1-51. Price 50 cents. 



* Birds and the War. By Hugh S. Gladstone, M. A., F. R. S. E., F. Z. S.. etc. Skeffing- 

 ton & Son, Ltd., Si Southampton Street, Strand, W. C. 2. London, 1919. 12 mo. pp. 

 i-xviii-1-169. 17 half-lone plates. Price 5s. net. 



