^°^i9if ^"^1 Recent Literature. 267 



the Purple Martin, though the scope will be broadened to include various 

 other species of birds which nest in boxes. The present issue contains 

 many excellent halftones of bird houses and Martins' nests together with 

 much valuable information regarding the economic value of the Martin 

 to fruit-growers and reports from Martin colonies in various parts of the 

 country. — W. S. 



Worcester on Newly Discovered Breeding Places of Philippine 

 Sea Birds. — In this interesting paper ' Dr. Worcester describes the Terns 

 and Boobies found breeding upon various Philippine reefs and sandbars 

 visited by him during the summer and autumn of 1910 and illustrates his 

 account by a series of most interesting photographs. 



The Terns observed were Sterna borealis, f areata, melanauchen and gracilis 

 and Ano\is stoUdus. On Bankoran Island were quantities of Boobies; the 

 red-footed Sula piscator nesting in the trees, while the brown species S. 

 leucogastra nested on the ground; nests of the latter being frequently 

 plundered by the Red-footed Boobies which were seeking nesting material. 



On Usong Island was a colony of Sula cyanops which like Sterna gracilis 

 had not previously been recorded from the Philippines. A female of this 

 Booby was found mated to a male S. leucogastra and three evident hybrids 

 between the two were secured .^ 



On Cavilli Island great numbers of a new Tern, Micranous rvorccsteri, 

 described in a recent paper' by Mr. McGregor, were found nesting in 

 the trees while the abundance of Frigate-birds, Fregafa aquila, suggested 

 that they also would be found breeding there at the proper season. — W. S. 



Gunning and Roberts on South African Birds.* — Those interested 

 in studying the various collections of African birds which have lately been 

 brought to America will find this paper with its descriptions of twenty-two 

 new species and subspecies, well worthy of consultation. Some details 

 in the authors' method of treatment are however open to criticism. Instead 

 of citing one type specimen, they cite two, a male and female and often 

 from different localities; while the method of using Roman numerals for 

 the months only adds to the possibilities of typographical errors, as seen 

 on p. Ill where we find " 31 IX. 08," surely an error unless September has 

 an extra day in South Africa. — W. S. 



> Newly Discovered Breeding Places of Philippine Sea Birds by Dean C. Wor- 

 cester. The Philippine .lournal of Science and General Biology, Ethnology and 

 Anthropology, vol. VI, No. 4. August. 1911. pp. 167-177, pU. i-viii. 



2 Hybridism among Boobies. By Dean C. Worcester, do. p. 179-lSl, pi. 1. 



3 Record of a Pufflnus new to Philippine Waters and Description of a New 

 Species of Micranous. By Richard C. McGregor. 



< New Records and Descriptions of New Species of Birds in the Transvaal 

 Museum Collection. By Dr. J. W. B. Gxinning and Austin Roberts. Annals 

 of the Transvaal Museum. July, 1911. pp. 109-118. 



