VO 'l906 IU ] Recent Literature. 235 



Pearl Islands only. That this is merely a phase of plumage is abundantly 

 shown by the Pearl Island series [21 specimens]." It is also suggested 

 that B. v. anthonyi will prove to be merely a synonym of B. v. frazari. 



Two subspecies are described as new, and one previously described by 

 Mr. Bangs has been found, in the light of new material, to be untenable. 



The second paper relates to the vertebrata of the Savanna of Panama, 1 

 a grassy plain near the city of Panama, where Mr. Brown collected during 

 the greater part of May, 1904, obtaining, in addition to collections of 

 mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, 86 species of birds, of which 

 three are described as new. The only North American migrant among 

 them was the Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii ulnorum). 



In other recent papers Mr. Bangs discusses - the status of Icterus </<iu/<i- 

 nensis Underwood, and arrives at the conclusion that it is "an example 

 of /. giraudii perfectly typical in every respect except in having the black 

 of the head extending somewhat farther back" than is usual. He also 

 cites several species of Ramphocelus, each resting on a single peculiar 

 individual, which he considers as other instances of a similar kind, — 

 species resting merely on 'freaks' or hybrids. He, on the other hand, 

 considers, 3 contrary to Mr. Ridgway's conclusion, that the Panama Green 

 Honey Creeper is entitled to recognition as a subspecies (Chlorophanes 

 spiza cr.su/), ranging from northern and western Ecuador through Panama 

 to Chiriqui, and as distinguishable from the more northern C. 8. guate- 

 malensis by smaller size and shorter bill. — J. A. A. 



Stone on a Collection of Birds from British East Africa. 4 — This 

 collection was made by Mr. George L. Harrison, Jr., on a journey through 

 Central East Africa, May 16 to November 4, 1904, and numbers 212 

 species, including one new to science. The annotations give the localities 

 and dates of collecting, and the color of the irides. bill, etc., taken from 

 the freshly killed specimens. The classification is that of Dr. Sharpe's 

 ' Hand-List of Birds.' — J. A. A. 



McGregor on Philippine Birds. — Publication No. 34 of the Bureau 



of Government Laboratories, Philippine Islands, contains two papers 5 



1 Vertebrata from t lie Savanna of Panama, Ibid., No. 12. pp. 211-230. January, 

 1906. Birds, by John E. Thayer and Outram Bangs, pp. 213-224. 



2 What is Icterus gualanensis Underwood? By Outram Bangs. Proc. Biol. Soc. 

 Wash., XVIII, pp. 167-170, June 29, 1905. 



3 The Name of the Panama Green Honey Creeper. By Outram Bangs. Ibid., 

 p. 186, June 29, 1905. 



4 On a Collection of Birds from British East Africa obtained by Mr. George L. 

 Harrison, Jr. By Winner Stone. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Nov., 1905, 

 pp. 755-782. Jan. 24, 1906. 



6 1. Birds from Mindoro ami small adjacent Islands; II. Notes on three rare 

 Luzon Birds. By Richard C. McGregor. [Publication] No. 34. Bureau of Govern- 

 ment Laboratories, Department of the Interior. 8vo, pp. 32, with 13 half-tone 

 plates. October, 1905. 



