V0l 'r9?i VI11 ] Recent Literature. 131 



The question of the generic names of the Swallows is of more than local 

 interest. Hartert accepts Forster's division of the Linnsean genus Hirundo, 

 namely, Chelidon for H. rustica, Riparia for H. riparia, and Hirundo for 

 H. urbica, as was done by the A. O. U. Nomenclature Committee in 1886 

 and 1895. Later Sharpe assumed that Schaeffer, in 1774, fixed the type 

 of Hirundo as H. rustica, which view was later accepted b} r numerous 

 authorities, including the A. O. U. Committee. Only within the last few 

 months, however, has the present writer had an opportunity to examine 

 Schseffer's work, and his treatment of the genus Hirundo. A careful 

 study of this work makes it evident to us that he did not, in any true or 

 acceptable sense, fix the type of Hirundo or of any other genus. — J. A. A. 



Gladstone's 'The Birds of Dumfriesshire.' 1 — The avifauna of 

 Dumfriesshire numbers 218 indigenous species, of which 56 are given as 

 "very rare or accidental visitors," while 29 others are entered as of doubt- 

 ful occurrence; 10 others are included as introduced species. The author 

 has followed the classification and nomenclature of Howard Saunders, 

 except in the case of geographical races, where trinomials and the nomen- 

 clature of Dr. E. Hartert are employed. 



It is a very comprehensive work in all that relates to the manner of 

 occurrence of the species of birds in Dumfriesshire. The general character 

 of the presence of each is summarized in a line or two of small heavy-faced 

 type as a sort of heading to the detailed account which immediately follows, 

 with references in footnotes to the authorities on which the various state- 

 ments in the text rest, when not based on the personal knowledge of the 

 author. 



The introduction includes short biographies of the ornithologists of 

 Dumfriesshire (pp. xxv-xlii), a list of correspondents who have assisted 

 the author in the work, an extended bibliography (pp. xlix-lxiii), a sketch 

 of the physical features and climate of Dumfriesshire (pp. lxv-Ixxvii), 

 a few pages on bird migration as observed in the county, two pages on 

 'flight-nets' as used by fishermen in capturing wild-fowl, six pages on 

 bird protection (including "The Wild Birds Protection Order" of 1908 

 for the County of Dumfries), a few pages of "local misnomers and names," 

 and three pages on the number of species recorded for Dumfriesshire, and 

 the method of their treatment in the 'Birds of Dumfriesshire," which 

 occupy the rest of the volume (pp. 1-472). The illustrations include, 

 besides a large folding map of the county (printed in colors to show con- 

 tours of altitude), twenty-four finely executed half-tone plates, representing 



1 The Birds | of | Dumfriesshire | a contribution to the Fauna of the Solway 

 Area | By | Hugh S. Galdstone | M. A., F. Z. S., F. R. S. E., M. B. O. U. | Presi- 

 dent of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History | and Antiquarian 

 Society. | With illustrations from photographs | by | Messrs. D. Legard, F. 

 Barber-Starkey, the Author | and others, and a map. | Witherby & Co. | 326 

 High Holborn London | 1910 — 8vo, pp. xcix + 482, 24 half-tone plates, and a 

 folded map. Edition, 350 numbered species. 25s. net. 



