'igil J Recent Literature. Oil 



The basis of this report is a collection of 2000 specimens collected by Mr. 

 Wilhelm Hoffmanns in 1906, 1907, and 1908, for the Tring Museum. 

 In addition to this material the author has had access to the Natterer 

 collection in the Vienna Museum, and to specimens in Count Berlepsch's 

 collection. The collector, Mr. Hoffmanns, suffered much from malaria 

 while forming this important collection, and unfortunately died from 

 pneumonia soon after his return to his home in Germany. 



The specimens are listed under their respective species, with the dates 

 and localities of collection, while measurements are given of wing, tail and 

 bill, and the collector's notes on the color of the iris, feet and bill from the 

 freshly killed specimen. References are given to previous pertinent 

 records, and there is much technical comment relating to the geographical 

 ranges and affinities of the forms recorded, and on points of nomenclature, 

 etc. The ranges of allied forms and their distinctive points are given in 

 synoptical form for many groups of subspecies, this rendering the report 

 of special convenience and value to future workers in South American 

 ornithology. The critical notes and references are of special importance 

 in connection with previous records. The first reference in the synonymies 

 is to the place of first description, and includes the type locality, if definitely 

 given originally or since assigned, and now assigned if not previously fixed. 

 In short, the report is made up in the same careful and critical manner 

 that has characterised the author's previous faunistic papers. 



A geographical summary at the close of the account states that only 

 species that have actually been taken in the Madeira district have been 

 included. The avifauna is said to show a mixed character, with some 30 

 species peculiar to it, while not a few are found on one bank of the river 

 that do not cross to the other. — J. A. A. 



' Feathers and Facts.' — Under this title 1 The Royal Society of Great 

 Britain for the Protection of Birds has issued a statement on the subject 

 of the trade in the plumage of wild birds, giving a brief history of its growth 

 and of the protest and condemnation that have arisen against it. Its main 

 purpose is to disprove various misstatements and allegations put forth 

 by the feather trade defense in their organ ' The Feather Trade.' Among 

 these are : the old story that ' osprey ' or aigrette plumes are not feathers 

 at all, thus deceiving thousands of women into buying egret plumes by 

 the false assertion that they were not egret feathers but an artificial product; 

 and, this having been proved false, the story that the plumes sold were 

 moulted feathers ' picked up ' by hunters, and that egrets were " protected 

 by law and custom throughout countless miles of the South American 

 continent," while the condition of the country concerned, and the jungles 



1 Feathers and Facts: A Reply to the Feather-Trade, and Review of Facts 

 with Reference to the Persecution of Birds for their Plumage. Svo, pp. 74. 

 London: Printed for The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 23 Queen 

 Anne's Gate, S. W., by Witherby & Co., 326 High Holborn, W. C. Price sixpence. 



