Vol.Xin Recent Literature. zS'J 



1895 J ' 



■will prove of value to students of the miijration and distribution of these 

 interesting birds. 



Bulletin No. 5' is an admirable paper on the nesting habits of the 

 American Crow, based on notes from observers representing twenty-eight 

 States and two Provinces. 



In the preliminary remarks and reports upon the character, habits, 

 and food of Crows, the author states that he " fully believes the benefits 

 derived from their destruction of injurious insects, rodents, etc., and 

 their work as scavengers, largely offsets the damage done by them, if 

 it does not over-balance it." Under • nidification ' we have paragraphs 

 devoted to the situation, position, height, construction, composition, 

 and measurements of the nest, while a succeeding section treats with 

 equal detail of the eggs. The matter is well selected and the author's 

 remarks upon the causes which influence the position ^and construction 

 of the nest, the number and size of the eggs, etc., are worthy the attention 

 of all students of philosophic ornithology. 



These two papers evince in a most satisfactory manner the results 

 which may be obtained by well directed, cooperative effort. — F. M. C 



Clark on the Pterylography of North American Goatsuckers and Owls.- 

 ^,ll■. Clark's paper is a welcome contribution to a much neglected sub- 

 ject. Of the Caprimulgi the genera treated are Phalcenoptilus, Antrostomus, 

 Nyctidromtis, and Chordeiles. The pterylosis of each is described in 

 detail, figured and compared. While found to be the same in plan in all, 

 the genera all differ from each other in more or less important details. 

 Among the Striges the pterylosis of only Asio accipitritius is figured in 

 full, with that of the head of Megascops asio, Nitzsch having already fig- 

 ured the ptervlosis of most of the other genera, and Dr. Shufeldt that of 

 Speotvto. The leading points of the subject are, however, reviewed, and 

 comparisons made between the different genera, and also with the Capri- 

 mulgi. In these comparisons perhaps rather too much stress is laid upon 

 unimportant details, which in some cases may be merely coincidences of 

 no particular suggestiveness rather than features entitled to serious taxo- 

 nomic consideration. Such perhaps is the relative length of the prima- 

 ries, and the number and relative length of the rectrices, features variable 

 in otherwise closely related genera in a large number of families. 



Mr. Clark concludes from his study of the pterylography of these 

 groups " that the Caprimulgi are related to Striges, and not very distantly 



'Bulletin No. 5, Ibid., The American Crow {Corznis am eric anus'). With 

 Special Reference to its Nest and Eggs. By Frank L. Burns, Oberlin, Ohio, 

 March 15, 1895. i2mo. pp. 41. 



*The Pterylography of certain American Goatsuckers and Owls. By Hu- 

 bert Lyman Clark. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XVII, pp. 551-572- June, 

 1895. 



