Vol : 5? n l Recent Literature. 



335 



superficial resemblance to that of a Swallow is structurally "more nearly 

 like that of such a typical Tanager as Piranga erythromelas / but in the 

 characters of the palate, Procnias departs so widely not only from the 

 Tanagers but from the large majority of Passerine birds, as to warrant 

 the establishment of a separate family for the members of the genus." 

 The pterylographical notes have been contributed by Mr. llurbert L. 

 Clark, who says that while the ptervlosis of Procnias is evidently passer- 

 ine, it " shows no particular leaning to any group." Figures are given 

 of the palatal region of the skull, and of the dorsal feather tracts, the 

 former in comparison with a Swallow and a Tanager, and the latter with 

 those of several species of Tanagers. — J. A. A. 



Montgomery on Migration as a Check upon Geographical Variation 1 . — 

 The evidence is so clearly in favor of Mr. Montgomery's proposition that 

 few doubtless will question the correctness of his main conclusions. 

 While we do not recall having seen the matter formally stated, doubtless 

 the coincidences here stated have not failed of recognition on the part of 

 many students of geographical variation. The author calls attention to 

 the fact that birds which are non-migratory, or which migrate only to a 

 limited extent, in case they have also a wide geographical distribution, are 

 apt to become differentiated into more or less well-marked subspecies 

 under the varying conditions of environment of the widely separated parts 

 of their range, while birds that migrate extensively, say through 30 or 

 more of latitude, even if widely dispersed during the breeding season, 

 seldom show a tendency to become differentiated into subspecies. This 

 he believes is due to the fact that " the influence of the winter environment 

 acts as a check upon the acquisition of adaptations suited alone to the 

 summer environment." — J. A. A. 



Contributions to Economic Ornithology. — The 'Yearbook of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture for 1S95', recently issued, contains two note- 

 worthy contributions to economic ornithology Mr. Svlvester D. Judd 

 reports on the food and general habits of the Catbird, Brown Thrasher, 

 Mockingbird, and House Wren, each species being illustrated with an 

 excellent full-length cut by Mr. J. L. Ridgway. The verdict is favorable 

 to all, as they subsist largely upon injurious insects. The House Wren 

 is " exclusively insectivorous"; the others live partly on fruits, some of 

 which are cultivated. 



1 Extensive Migration in birds as a Check upon the Production of Geograph- 

 ical Varieties. By Thomas H. Montgomery, Jr., American Naturalist, June. 

 1896, pp. 45 s -464- 



- Four Common Birds of the Farm and Garden. By Sylvester D. Judd, 

 Assistant Ornithologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Yearbook of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture for 1S95, PP- 4 5 _ 4 I S, with 4 cuts. 



