488 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



86. Reichenau on the Darwinian Theory of Birds' Nests. 



- [Darwinistische Scliriften No. 9. Die Nester und Eier der Vogel in 

 ihren Datiirliclien Beziehungen betrachtet. Ein Beitrag zur Ornitliopsy- 

 chologie, Ornithopliysiologie uud zur Kritik der Darwin'schen Theorieen, 

 bearbeitet von Willielm von Reiclieuau. 8vo. Leipzig : 1880.] 



This is an essay on the nest-making of birds and the colo- 

 ration of birds'" eggs in relation to the Darwinian theory of 

 descent, and will be read with advantage by those who are 

 interested in this absorbing subject. We are, however, not 

 quite sure that the author is quite sufficiently acquainted 

 with his '^ particulars " to go into " generals " (see p. 43, 

 where Tinamus is classed with Maleo as " selbstbrlitende 

 Nester "). Herr v. Reichenau, if we understand him rightly, 

 agrees with Mr. Wallace (in opposition to Mr. Darwin) 

 in considering that " Natural Selection '' is the real potent 

 factor in the relations between the colour of the breeding 

 female and the fashion of the nest. 



87. Ridgway's List of North- American Birds. 



[Nomenclature of North-American Birds, chiefly contained in the 

 United States National Museum. By Robert Ridgway. Washington : 

 1881. (Bulletin of the U.S. National Museum, No. 21.)] 



Mr. Ridgway gives us here a new edition of his Catalogue 

 of North-American Birds, published in 1880'^". It is, how- 

 ever, " very materially modified by numerous alterations and 

 corrections, involving not only the change of a considerable 

 number of names, but also the writing of a new introduc- 

 tion.^^ These changes are carefully specified in a footnote, 

 and, as regards the scientific nomenclature, are, in nearly 

 every case, it must be conceded, changes for the better. 



The total number of species enumerated in the present 

 catalogue is 764, the subspecies, to which a trinomial de^ 

 signation is assigned, being distinguished by a letter of the 

 alphabet (a, h, kc, according to the number of subordinate 

 forms) affixed to the species -number. Of these subspecies 

 160 are recognized. 



• A Catalogue of the Birds of Noi'th America. By Robert Ridgway. 

 Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. iii. p. 163. 



