264 Recent Literature. [April 



based upon the fifth edition of Dr. Snow's list. The total number of species 

 and subspecies is 379 as against 348 given by Dr. Snow. The Oregon 

 Junco, Loggerhead Shrike and Long-billed Marsh Wren recorded by him 

 are omitted as no evidence of their occurrence could be found. 



It is unfortunate that the species added to Dr. Snow's catalogue are not 

 listed separately as it is difficult or impossible to pick them out of the main 

 list. The paper makes a convenient summary of our present knowledge 

 of the Kansas avifauna and will be of much assistance to local students of 

 Kansas birds. — W. S. 



Swarth on Geese of the Branta canadensis Group. i — Mr. Swarth 

 bases his study upon a series of 153 skins mainly from California and his 

 conclusions go far to straighten out the confusion that has prevailed re- 

 garding the relationships of the four races of Canada Geese. 



He finds that the breeding bird of California is true canadensis while 

 occidentalis is entirely restricted to the humid northwest coast region where 

 it is nearly resident, never migrating as far south as CaHfornia. These are 

 both large birds with the throat usually entirely white and the collar on 

 the lower neck usually absent, the former form being light gray below, 

 the latter dark brown. 



Branta c. minima is the smallest form, with a bill notably smaller than 

 in either of the above but presenting the greatest variation in coloration. 



B. c. hutchinsi forms a perfect series of intergrades between canadensis 

 and minima, and like the latter is very variable in color characters. The 

 smaller races breed in the far north, minima on the Alaskan coast of Bering 

 Sea and the Aleutian Islands; hutchinsi farther east. The numerous 

 intergrades indicate that their breeding areas merge one into the other but 

 the alleged breeding of hutchinsi in Alaska would seem to need careful 

 cfonfii'mation. Mr. Swarth has produced a careful and valuable piece of 

 work. — W. S. 



Job on the Quest of the Canvasback.^ — Mr. Job with three compan- 

 ions spent three months of the past year on Lake Winnipegosis, northern 

 Manitoba, studying the breeding ducks and other water fowl. His main 

 object was to secure young of the various species, especially Canvasbacks, 

 for breeding experiments which he is carrying on in Connecticut. He suc- 

 ceeded, with the aid of incubators and brooders, in hatching and raising 

 about 200 young ducks of ten species, as well as some Coots, while a few 

 young were caught alive in the marshes. Mr. Job tells the story of his 

 summer's experience in a most dehghtful way and illustrates his article 



1 A Study of a Collection of Geese of the Branta canadensis group from the 

 San Joaquin Valley, California. By Harry S. Swarth. Univ. of Cal. Publ. in 

 Zool., Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 1-24, pis. 1-2. Nov. 20, 1913. 



2 In Quest of the Canvasback. By Herbert K. Job. Outing, February, 1914, 

 pp. 515-525. 



