1 04 Recent Literature. \j^. 



of Tritiga hyperborea, which, in vay opinion, it is wise to adopt, as the 

 name of lobatus has been applied to the Grej Phalaropes so often, that 

 even at the present day its adoption seems certain to create confusion." 

 To show how little there is in this plea, it may be stated that, according to 

 Mr. Sharpe's citations, the name lobatus was applied just 8 times in the 

 century 1771-1871, deducting for one reference (to Blyth, pp. 694 and 

 696) given twice, and for one reference (to Treat) which belongs to 

 ' hyperboreus ' / 



The bibliographical citations are very extended, under some species 

 occupying from three to five pages. In fact, we are told in the Intro- 

 duction that " The references quoted in the synonj'my are 18,892. With 

 the exception of a few books, which proved to be inaccessible, the whole 

 mass of this literature has been actually consulted." The labor here 

 involved no one can appreciate who has not engaged extensively in biblio- 

 graphical work. It is doubtless well done, and as free from errors and 

 transpositions as such work usually is. We miss, however, references to 

 some publications that must have been accessible ; for example, the earlier 

 volumes of the 'Bulletin 'of the American Museum of Natural History 

 are cited but the later ones are not ; and so with other works that might be 

 mentioned, which are either quite overlooked or cited irregularly'. The 

 earlier volumes of the ' Bulletin' of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 

 at Cambridge are cited as "Bull. Harv. Coll.," while later volumes are 

 given correctly. As there is no such scientific publication as ' Bull. Harv. 

 Coll.' there might be some trouble if one not conversant with the case 

 should attempt to verify such references. 



With all this apparently ungrateful fault-finding, we share the sense of 

 profound indebtedness all ornithologists must feel toward Dr. Sharpe for 

 the great boon conferred by his work on the Limicolce, and appreciate 

 most heartily the vast amount of drudgery it must have cost, as well as the 

 skill and efficiency displayed in its preparation. — J. A. A. 



Bendire's 'Life Histories of North American Birds.' — This forms, in 

 order of appearance. Part II of the author's great work on ' The Life 

 Histories of North American Birds', but through lack of foresight on the 

 part of the proper authorities in such matters, we are left without any 

 convenient method of notation to distinguish the present part of this 



' Smithsonian Institution. ] United States National Museum. | Special Bulle- 

 tin. I — I Life Histories | of | North American Birds, | from the Parrots to 

 the Grackles, | with special reference to | their Breeding Habits and Eggs, | 

 by I Charles Bendire, Captain and Brevet Major, U. S. A. (retired). | Honor, 

 ary Curator of the Department of Oology, U. S. National Museum, | 

 Member of the American Ornithologists' Union. | With | Seven Lithographic 

 Plates. I — I Washington: | Government Printing Office. | 1895 C= Oct. i, 

 1896]. — 4to, pp. i-ix, 1-518, col. pll. i-vii, each with explanatory leaf. 



