VoLXXl Recent Literature. 92 1 



1903 J O - *^ 



list, bringing Dr. Stejneger"s list, published in 1887 (77 species), down 

 to date, with introductory comment, the number ot: species now recorded 

 being 99. — J. A. A. 



Barrett Hamilton on the Position of the Legs of Birds during Flight. — 

 In a paper ' of about a dozen pages the author briefly summarizes what 

 had been previously published on the subject and adds his own obser- 

 vations and some others previously unpublished. The paper closes with 

 a list of the species observed, arranged in the two categories : ' Legs car- 

 ried pointing backward,' and ' Legs carried bent forward.' The latter 

 consists almost wholly of passerine birds, while the former includes birds 

 of all the other orders. The legs of birds, it is noted, often afford great 

 and constant assistance in flight. "It is almost as if, to some birds, the 

 legs are nearlv more important as organs of flight than of progression on 

 land."— J. A. A. 



Dubois"s ■ Synopsis Avium." — Since our last notice of this important 

 work (Auk, XIX, Oct., 1902, p. 409) two additional parts (XI and XII) 

 have come to hand, carrying the subject into the Herodiones. Part XI 

 includes the Columbie, Heteroclitse, Crypturi, Gallinue, and part of the 

 Accipitres ; Part XII completes the Accipitres and Striges, and includes 

 a large part of the Herodiones. — J. A. A. 



North's Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds. — A second edition of Mr. 

 Alfred J. North's Nests and Eggs of Australian and Tasmanian Birds ^ is 

 being issued in parts, of which Part i appeared in June, 1901, Part II in 

 April, 1902, and Part III in April, 1903. The size is full quarto, and it is 

 tastefully printed on heavy paper, with colored plates and many figures of 

 nests, heads, and full-length figures of the birds in the text. Part I 

 contains the Corvidie, and part of the Paradiseidse, w-hich occupy the 

 greater portion of Part II. Then follow the Campophagidse, completed 

 in Part II, and the great family Muscicapidze runs through Part III. 

 Descriptions are first given of the birds, with a few bibliographical refer- 

 ences, and a statement of the range. Then follows the biographical matter, 



' On the Position occupied by the Legs of Birds during Flight. By G. E. H. 

 Barrett-Hamilton. The Zoologist, April, 1903, pp. 139-149. Also separate, 

 repaged. 



^ Nests and Eggs of Birds found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania. By 

 Alfred J. North, C. M. Z. S., Ornithologist, Australian Museum. (Second edi- 

 tion of Catalogue No. XII, entirely rewritten, with additions.) Printed by 

 order of the Trustees of the Australian Museum ; R. Ethridge, Jr., J. P., Cura- 

 tor (:= Australian Museum, Sydney. Special Catalogue, No. I.) Part I, pp. 

 1-36, pU. Ai, Bi, June 11, 1901 ; Part II, pp. 37-120, pll. B2, B3, B4, April 

 25, 1902 ; Part III, pp. 121-201, pU. A2, A3, A4, April 27, 1903. 



