164 



Recent Literature. \_A% 



Candida (p. 42); Anser anser instead of Anser ferns (p. 89); Tadorna 

 tadorna instead of Tadorna cornuta (p. 171) ; Casarca casarca instead of 

 Casarca rittila (p. 177); Querquedula querquedula instead of ^uerque- 

 dula circia (p. 293), and especially in this case where Sfhtequedula is often 

 considered as not genericallv separable from Anas ; Nyroca nyroca instead 

 of Nyroca africana (p. 345); Clangula clangula instead of Clangula 

 glaucion (1^376); Merganser merganser instead of Merganser castor (p. 

 472 ) ; Casuarius casuarius instead of Casuarius galeatus (p. 592). Through 

 some unexplained exception to the author's evident rule, in the case of 

 Rhea americanus, Linne is taken at 175S instead of 1766, which otherwise 

 Mould give us also Rhea r/iea (p. 578). Although Brisson's genera are 

 in some instances taken, Brisson's Ahhima is rejected for the later 

 Palamedea of Linne (p. 2). 



Count Salvadori has expended an enormous amount of labor on this 

 thick volume of nearly 600 pages. The bibliographical references are 

 exceedingly full ; the references to the anatomy are separated from the 

 others, as are also the references to hybrids, which among the Ducks are 

 so numerous as to form a striking feature of the bibliography. While" 

 the part of the work relating to the An sere's will prove so immensely 

 valuable to the general student, the author's revision of the Crvpturi 

 will be hailed as a special godsend by those brought into relation with 

 this exceedingly troublesome and difficult group. — J. A. A. 



Chapman on Changes of Plumage in the Dunlin and Sanderling. 1 — 

 There is no uncertain ring about the present paper. It boldly challenges 

 certain statements of an eminent European authority, Herr Gatke, and 

 proves them erroneous, not bv any theoretical arguments advanced to 

 nicely fit the case, but by a simple statement of facts which leave no room 

 for doubt. An interesting chapter of Gatke's book ' Die Vogelwarte Hel- 

 goland ' is devoted to the long mooted question of changes taking place 

 in feathers without moult, and much stress is laid upon repigmentation 

 and renewal of abraded contour as important factors in the process of 

 passing from the winter to the summer plumage of many species. The 

 Dunlin (Tringa alpina*) and the Sanderling (Calidris arenaria) are 

 two of the species in which the gradual change is described with great 

 minuteness of detail. One can almost see the black color spreading over 

 the gray feathers of the back and the worn tips blossoming, so to speak, 

 into new feathers by a " restoration of the worn and blunted barbs to 

 their previous entirety," but unfortunately for this theory Mr. Chapman 

 has examined no less than fifty-seven specimens of the former species 

 (including the suspecies fiacijiar) and ninety-seven of the latter which 

 show conclusively that a complete moult takes place in both, except in the 

 rectrices and remiges of the Dunlin. Twelve specimens of the Dunlin 



'The Changes of Plumage in the Dunlin and Sanderling. By Frank M. 

 Chapman. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., VIII, art. I., pp. 1-8 (March 4, 1896). 



