° i9ii J Recent Literature. 133 



entering the throat at all." The closing paragraph of the account notes 

 the "tone of gentleness" of these birds, and their "silent dignity," but 

 adds: "True, to be exact, their silence is more a necessity than a virtue, 

 since they are possessed of no true vocal organ, but it so befits their other 

 actions that it may well be laid to their credit without too close examina- 

 tion." 



In the home-life of the Common Heron its checkered history is noted. 

 In early times it was protected as royal game, but since the breechloader 

 has ousted the falcon, he is no longer protected to be destroyed, but from 

 destruction, since the angling fraternity are now "clamoring loudly for 

 his blood." 



Mr. Beetham's narrative is entertainingly written and adds greatly 

 to our knowledge of the intimate home-life of these shy and interesting 

 birds, while the beautiful photographic plates add a realism that no amount 

 of word-painting can supply. — J. A. A. 



Simon on the Hummingbirds of Ecuador. 1 — Ecuador is divided into 

 three regions, (1) the low hot region between the Pacific and the western 

 Cordillera, (2) the area between the two Andean ranges, and (3) the basins 

 of the Rio Napo and Rio Pastassa. The characteristic forms of Humming- 

 birds of each are indicated and the ranges of various genera, as represented 

 in the three districts, are commented upon. The list numbers 152 spe- 

 cies, with notes on their ranges, and with pertinent technical comment. 

 Taphrospilus is proposed as a new genus, with Aphantochroa hyposticta 

 Gould as type; Prasitis vitticeps is described as new. The catalogue is a 

 valuable contribution to our knowledge of the species of Hummingbirds 

 thus far recorded from Ecuador and of their distribution. — J. A. A. 



Gunning and Haagner's ' A Check-List of the Birds of South 

 Africa.' 2 — The northern boundary of the area here included is approxi- 

 mately latitude 16° S., or "a line formed by the Cunene River on the east 

 and the Zambesi River on the west." As said in the Introduction, Dr. 

 Reichenow's 'Vogel Afrikas' is taken as the basis of the list, this being 

 "the only complete modern work on African Ornithology, and as he has 

 evidently bestowed much time and care on the subject of the nomencla- 

 ture of South African birds. Where we have cause to differ from Dr. 



1 Catalogue general des Trochilides observes jusqu'a ce jour dans la Repub- 

 lique de l'Ecuador. Par E. Simon. Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie, Nos. 17 

 et 18, Sept.-Oct., 1910, pp. 257-270. 



2 A Check-List of the Birds of South Africa, Being a record of all the species 

 known to occur south of the Zambezi-Cunene line (the 16th degree of south lati- 

 tude). By Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, President, South African Ornithologist's 

 Union, and Alwin Haagner, P. Z. S., Colonial Member, British Ornithologists' 

 Union, Honorary Member, Royal Hungarian Bureau of Ornithology, Honorary 

 Secretary, South African Ornithologists' Union. Annals Transvaal Museum, 

 Vol. II, July, 1910, Suppl., pp. 84. 



