112 Recent Literature. [jan. 



tant original information on the habits, abundance, and relationship of the 

 species treated. While gross comparisons are hardly permissible it is 

 nevertheless interesting to note that of the 146 species and subspecies of 

 land birds 85 are identical with those listed in Mr. Tyler's Birds of Fresno 

 noticed above. — W. S. 



Gifford's ' Birds of the Galapagos Islands.' ^ — At the time of the 

 earthquake and conflagration at San Francisco the Academy of Sciences 

 had an expedition in the Galapagos which during an absence of 17 months 

 secured the finest series of collections yet obtained on these interesting 

 islands, and these have formed the nucleus of the new museum which the 

 Academy has had to build up. Reports on several of the collections have 

 already been published and in the contribution before us Mr. Edward W. 

 Gifford, assistant curator of ornithology at the Academy, and ornithologist 

 of the expedition, presents the first installment of an account of the orni- 

 thological material that was obtained, of which the skins alone number 

 8,691. 



Forty-five species are treated in the present installment all of which, except 

 the Dove, are water birds. The fullness of the accounts of the resident spe- 

 cies leaves little to be desired and the completed report promises to be the 

 most important contribution to the ornithology of the Galapagos that has 

 yet appeared. Seven half-tones illustrate some of the more interesting spe- 

 cies and their nests, including photographs of the flightless Cormorant 

 ( Nannopterum harrisii) . 



The nomenclature and sequence follow Sharpe's ' Hand List,' but even 

 with this fact clearly stated it is unfortunate that the authorities for the 

 names were not added, as is customary in all works of such importance as 

 the present. We trust that Mr. Gifford may be able to push his report 

 to an early completion and maintain the high standard that he has estab- 

 lished.— W. S. 



Brooks' List of the Birds of West Virginia.^ — Mr. Viquesney's re- 

 port as forest, game and fish warden of West Virginia is another of the 

 admirable, educational reports that are being issued today by game wardens 

 in various states. 



In addition to general information on the protection of insectivorous and 

 game birds, there is included a carefully prepared fist of all the birds of 

 the state by Rev. Earl A. Brooks. This is divided into two parts, one 



' Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Galapagos Islands 

 1905-1906. VIII. The Birds of the Galapagos Islands, with Observations on 

 the Birds of Cocos and Clipperton Islands (Columbiformes to Pelecaniformes). 

 By Edward Winslow Gifford. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. Fourth Series, Vol. II, Pt. I. 

 pp. 1-132, pi. 1-7. August 11, 1913. 



• Second Biennial Report of the Forest, Game and Fish Warden [of West Vir- 

 ginia] 1911-1912. J. A. Viquesney. Belington [W. Va.] [1913]. 8vo. pp. 1-106 

 with 19 half-tone plates. List of birds, pp. 87-106. 



