Recently published Ornithological Works. 627 



a third division relating to the zoological work of the years 

 1851 to 1901 will ultimately be added. 



139. Stone on Birds from Sumatra. 



[A Collection of Birds from Sumatra, obtained by Alfred C. Harrison, 

 Jun., and Dr. H. M. Killer. By Witmer Stone. Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci. Philadelphia, 1902, pp. 070-691.] 



This is a catalogue of a collection of birds made at several 

 localities in Sumatra by Mr. A. C. Harrison, Jun., and 

 Dr. H. M. Hiller, which Avas presented to the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The collection contains 

 examples of 138 species, mostly well-known forms. Having 

 under his charge in the Wilson Collection (received from 

 Verreaux) what is supposed to be the typical specimen of 

 Trichostoma umbratile of Strickland (Contr. Orn. 1849, 

 p. 128), which is usually held to be the same as T. rostratum 

 Blyth, Mr. Stone, with the assent of Dr. C. W. Richmond, 

 pronounces it not to be a Trichostoma at all, but identical 

 with Rhinomyias pectoralis Salvad. Knowing, however, the 

 accuracy of Strickland's work and the careless manner in 

 which many of the specimens which passed through the 

 Maison Verreaux in former days were labelled, we should 

 be disposed to doubt this identification, unless it were con- 

 firmed on examination of the typical specimens of Napothera 

 umbratilis Temm. in the Leyden Museum. 



A subspecies of Rhinomyias, based on specimens obtained 

 by Dr. Abbott on the coast of Sumatra, is characterized as 

 R. umbratilis richmondi. 



We may say, in conclusion, that we are among those who 

 still " believe in the propriety of ignoring names which are 

 geographically misleading/' and should not be disposed to 

 adopt as the title of a Bornean Kingfisher " Pelargopsis 

 capensis javana " ! Truth, in our opinion, is more important 

 than priority ! 



140. Strong on the Colour of Feathers. 



[The Development of Colour in the Definitive Feather. By R. M. 

 Strong. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard College, xl. pp. 147- l s "> & 

 ph. 1-9 (1902) 



This paper trenches too much upon histology to make it 



