^°'i9lf ^''^J Recent Literature. 551 



so called is renamed P. couesi. P. griseus is again subdivided, our Atlantic 

 form being P. g. stricklandi, while our Pacific form is P. g. chilensis. Taken 

 altogether these parts of Mr. Mathews' work constitute one of the most 

 important contributions to our knowledge of the Procellariiformes that has 

 yet appeared. — W. S. 



The Austral Avian Record No. 3.' — In this number Mr. Mathews 

 discusses the coloration of the head and neck of the Australian Cassowary 

 and some rare publications by S. Diggles on new Australian birds. Another 

 list of additions and corrections to the author's ' Reference List ' of the birds 

 of Austraha also appears containing twenty-two additional new subspecies. 

 — W. S. 



Bryant on The Present and Future Status of the California Valley 

 Quail. 2 — The investigation reported in this paper shows conclusively that 

 the preservation of this well known game bird is likely to be seriously 

 threatened if present conditions in CaUfornia continue. The increase in 

 gunners, extension of agriculture and destruction of cover are shown to be 

 the most serious factors. 



The issue of 12,500 hunting Mcenses in southern California in 1910, and 

 the merciless slaughter of Quail by market gunners and others in the past, 

 clearly show where Ues the responsibihty for the decrease in numbers that 

 Mr. Bryant has reported. All aspects of the question are carefully 

 considered and steps for the furnishing of food and cover, and for Umiting 

 the amount of hunting, so that the annual destruction does not exceed the 

 production of young, are recommended. — W. S. 



Grinnell's Systematic List of the Birds of California.'' — The object 

 of this publication seems to be to present a list of Californian Birds in a 

 sequence which the author regards as representing the most modern ideas 

 of classification — i. e. as presented in Knowlton's ' Birds of the World.' 

 As in Mr. Grinnell's previous catalogue, many races described by him but 

 not recognized in the A. O. U. Check-List are included. Useful as the list 

 is in illustrating a modern system of classification it is to be hoped, as a 

 matter of convenience to all American Ornithologists, that it be not fol- 

 lowed in future pubhcations of the Cooper Ornithological Club. In faunal 

 lists matters of classification are of secondary importance as compared 

 with the great convenience of uniformity of sequence. Mr. Grinnell's 

 list enumerates 530 species and subspecies, 55 of which are regarded as of 

 casual or accidental occurrence. — W. S. 



1 The Austral Avian Record, Vol. I, No. 3. Wltherby& Co., London. June 28, 

 1912. 



2 The Present and Future Status of the California Valley Quail. By Harold C. 

 Bryant. The Condor, Vol. XIV. July, 1912, pp. 131-142. 



3 A Systematic List of tlie Birds of California. Pacific Coast Avifauna, No. 8, 

 Cooper Ornithological Club, Hollywood, Cal. August 30, 1912. pp. 1-23. 



