iS9>.] Recent Literature. '?8'J 



research, and seems to cover very thoroughly the literature of the subject. 

 lie appears to weigh the evidence, for the most part, very judiciously, 

 but, as he himself deplores (p. 191), he is seriously handicapped in his 

 task by the fact that he is not professionally an ornithologist, and is thus 

 untrained in the technique of the science. He is hence hopelessly at sea 

 where questions of nomenclature, synonymy, and classification are con- 

 cerned, the status of species and subspecies and of questionable forms 

 proving frequent and troublesome stumbling-blocks in his way. lie has? 

 however, brought together a large amount of information bearing on the 

 subject in hand, which, aside from its intrinsic interest, will be a valuable 

 aid to any investigator desirous of pursuing the subject further. 



After sifting the available evidence, he reaches the conclusion (p. 442) 

 that the authentic instances of crossing in a state of nature between birds 

 of unquestioned specific distinctness number only 24, many of which are 

 between species commonly referred to distinct genera. Among types 

 which he considers merely races or varieties of the same species he ad- 

 duces 20 cases, to which he adds 7 others he thinks should be entered in 

 the same category. He cites 34 additional alleged cases where to him the 

 evidence is not, for one reason or another, wholly satisfactory. His work 

 is well worthy of careful examination by those especially interested in the 

 subject of hybridity. Unfortunately the text is greatly marred by incor- 

 rect spellingof personal and geographical names, to such an extent indeed 

 as to give the eff'ect of careless composition and a generally unscholarly 

 appearance. — J. A. A. 



Minor Ornithological Publications. — 



American Field. 



'The American Field' was last noticed here in Vol. VIII, pp. 3S7-392, 

 where the record was carried through Vol. XXXIV. Since then it has not 

 contained much ornithology, the only contributions worthy of mention in 

 Vols. XXXV-XXXVII (Jan., iS9i,-June, 1S92) being the following (Nos. 

 2452-2465) . 



2452. Birds Observed in Alabama. By W. C. A[very]. 'American 

 Field,' Vol. XXXV, No. i, Jan. 3, 1891, p. 8; No. 2, Jan. 10, 1891, p. 32; 

 No. 3, Jan. 17, 1891, p. 55. — An interesting 'local list.' For the previous 

 parts of the paper see Auk, VIII, 392, No. 21 11. 



2453. Days -with the Waterfoxvl of America. By. Dr. F. Henry Yorke. 

 Ibid., No. 2, Jan. lo, 1891, pp. 25-27, No. 3, Jan. 17, 1891, pp. 49-51, No. 

 4, Jan. 24, 1891, pp. 73-74, No. 5, Jan. 31, 1891, pp. 97-99, [Anas disco rs^', 

 No. 6, Feb. 7, 1891, pp. 121-123, No. 7, Feb. 14, 1891, pp. 145-147, [Anas 

 bosc/ias^ ; No. 8, Feb. 21, 1S91, pp. 169-171 [Anas boschas, Grtis tnexicana, 

 Botaurus lentiginosus~\ ; No. 9, Feb. 28, 1891, pp. 193-195, No. 10, March 

 7, 1S91, pp. 217-219, No. II, March 14, 1891, pp. 245-247, [Anas boschas'] ; 

 No. 12, March 21, 1891, pp. 269-271, No. 13, March 28, 1S91, pp. 293-295, 



