86 Recent Literature. [jan. 



Grinnell's Distributional List of the Birds of California. ^ — This 

 is Dr. Grinnell's third list of CaUfornia birds, the first appearing as ' Pacific 

 Coast Avifauna No. 3,' in 1902; and the second, a mere nominal list of 

 species, as 'Avifauna No. 8/ in 1912. These contained respectively 491 

 and 530 species and subspecies while the present list totals 541. 



The plan of this work is practically that of the 1902 list with the addition 

 of many definite records and references covering the extremes of range or 

 other critical occm-rences. In the case of rare species references to all the 

 records are given. 



As the list is solely distributional in character no data regarding migra- 

 tion, extent of breeding season, etc., are included. Synonyms used in 

 works on California birds are given as in the earlier list and these are 

 included in the index so that any of the old records may readily be referred 

 to the currently recognized form. The thi'ee maps are a valuable aid in 

 understanding the details of distribution given under each species and 

 subspecies and a chapter on ' Distributional Areas ' gives Dr. Grinnell's 

 latest views on a subject upon which he is the recognized authority. 



The classification is that of the A. O. U. Check-List, which was also 

 followed in the 1902 list, but not in that of 1912, the author agreeing with 

 the A. O. U. Committee that the benefits of uniformity in sequence with 

 the great bulk of American ornithological literature outweighed the ad- 

 vantages of being more ' up to date ' with a classification which itself is 

 admittedly only temporary. Sequence of species and subspecies and 

 nomenclature are nearly those of the A. O. U. Check-List differing in the 

 rank accorded certain forms and in the relationship of subspecies. Species 

 and subspecies are printed in the same type and numbered consecutively 

 with no binomial headings for groups of subspecies and no headings for 

 generic or higher groups, as the list, being distributional, only does not 

 concern itself with details of classification or nomenclature. 



Some forty races not admitted or not yet considered by the A. O. U. 

 Committee are recognized by Dr. Grinnell while Melospiza melodia 

 morphna, Aphelocoma californica obscura and Falco sparverius phalcena 

 which appear in the A. O. U. Check-List are rejected. 



We notice that the recognition of extralimital races in the case of several 

 groups leads to the doubling of the specific name as Ochthodromas ivilson- 

 ianus wilsonianus but this is not done in the case of Passer domesticus where 

 several extralimital races are generally admitted. The A. O. U. Committee 

 committed this same error (cf. Auk, 1913, p. ) and doubtless Dr. Grinnell 

 followed their example as he apparently did in writing 'Aditis macularius ' 



1 A Distributional List of the Birds of California. By Joseph Grinnell. Con- 

 tribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California. 

 Cooper Ornithological Club. Pacific Coast Avifauna. Number 11. Hollywood, 

 California. Published by the Club, October 21, 1915. pp. 1-217, pi. I-III 

 [maps]. 



