'^"'me^"'] Recent Ldterature. 207 



contained in this matrix is upon its dark side, and is, without doubt, the 

 feather of some rather large bird. When the slab is wet, this feather 

 comes out much more clearly into view, and when it was in that condition, 

 I made a photograph of it natural size, to file, along with similar ones, in 

 my collection. 



Although this fossil feather has the appearance of being somewhat 

 plumulaceous in character, I am strongly of the opinion that it is a primary 

 feather from a wing. Its quill has a length of about 4 cm., and the vane 

 about 7.3 cm. In other words, it was a feather about 11.3 cm. long, and 

 apparently belonged to a bird of considerable size. As the photograph 

 shows, the impression is very faint, and even with a strong lens it is quite 

 impossible to make out the minute structure or any part of it, as is so fre- 

 quently the case in fossil feathers. This specimen is No. Ill in the Paulista 

 Museum, and is of interest from the fact that it furnishes evidence of the 

 existence of highly developed birds in that particular formation in which 

 it occurred. — R. W. Shufeldt, Wafthington, D. C. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Bryan's Natural History of Hawaii.' — Quoting the words of the 

 author in his preface ; "In the preparation of the following pages it has been 

 the aim of the author to bring together into one volume the more impor- 

 tant and interesting facts about the Hawaiian Islands and their primitive 

 inhabitants, as well as information concerning the native and introduced 

 plants and animals of the group." 



The results of the author's labors appear in a large volume of nearly 

 600 pages, illustrated by 117 full-page plate photographs. The scope 

 of the volume and the subjects treated appear from the following chapter 

 headings: 



Coming of the Hawaiian Race; Tranquil Environment of Hawaii and its 

 Effect on the People; Physical Characteristics of the People; Their Lan- 

 guage; Manners and Customs; Religion of the Hawaiians : Their Method 

 of Warfare and Feudal Organization; The Hawaiian House: Its Furnish- 

 ings and Household Utensils; Occupations of the Hawaiian People; Tools, 

 Implements, Arts and Amusements of the Hawaiians; Coming of Pele 



' "Natural History of Hawaii." Being an Account of the Hawaiian People, the Geology 

 and Geography of the Islands, and the Native and Introduced Plants and Animals of the 

 Group. By William Alanson Bryan, B. Sc, Professor of Zoology and Geology in the 

 College of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Gazette Co., Ltd., 1915. Price, $5.50. 



