498 Recent Literature. [Oct 



and of Vieillot's contributions to the ' Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire 

 Naturelle.' 



His first-cited paper in ' The Emu ' (I. c.) gives the results of his nomen- 

 clatorial investigations as relating to Australian birds, with, in addition, 

 his views as to the genera to be recognized, and the eliminations of extra- 

 limital genera and species. His second paper in ' The Emu ' (I. c.) gives 

 an explanation of the nomenclature and principles followed by him in 

 the previous papers, for the benefit especially of Australian ornithologists. 

 In this paper he states clearly why the changes he has proposed are neces- 

 sary. The current nomenclature of Australian birds, being, like his own 

 ' Handlist of Australian Birds,' that of Sharpe's British Museum ' Hand- 

 list,' is at many points not in conformity with the now generally accepted 

 International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, which he has now adopted. 

 He further makes a strong plea for the recognition of subspecies and the 

 use of trinomial nomenclature, neither of which appear to have yet found 

 much favor with Australian ornithologists. He also explains and advocates 

 the determination of genotypes by " virtual tautonymy," and finally gives 

 his reasons for his extensive reduction in the number of genera he adopts, 

 citing especially Charadrius and Tringa and their modern subdivisions in 

 illustration. We believe that in this extensive lumping of genera he will 

 not win a large following. A quarter of a century ago the American 

 Ornithologists' Union Committee on Nomenclature took the same view, 

 and reduced a large number of then current genera to subgenera, which, 

 some twenty years later, this same Committee began gradually to reinstate 

 as full genera until in 1910, in the third edition of its Check-List of North 

 American Birds, nearly all the previously rejected genera were reinstated. 

 The Committee's action in 1885 in this matter failed to receive the ap- 

 proval of ornithologists at large, and we feel quite sure that in this respect 

 history will again repeat itself, and that Mr. Mathews and his friend Dr. 

 Hartert will find themselves in a small minority not only in the lump- 

 ing of genera but in the rejection of Brissonian generic names. — J. A. A. 



Hancock's ' Nature Sketches in Temperate America.' — As shown 

 by the full title, 1 this book deals with outdoor life from the standpoint of 

 ecology and evolution, as further indicated by the following transcript 

 of the section headings: I. Evolution and Natural Selection (pp. 1-24). 



II. Adaptations in Animals and Plants, with examples (pp. 25-64). 



III. Protective Resemblance, with examples (pp. 65-114). IV. Mim- 

 icry, with examples (pp. 115-133). V. Warning Colors, Terrifying 

 Markings, and other Protective Devices, with examples (pp. 135-164). 

 VI. Animal Behavior, with examples (pp. 165-267). VII. General 



i Nature Sketches | in [ Temperate America | A series of sketches and a popular 

 account | of Insects, Birds, and Plants, treated | from some aspects of their | 

 Evolution and Ecological [ Relations | By | Joseph Lane Hancock | M. D., F. E. S. 

 | [illustration]. With two hundred and fifteen original | illustrations in the text, 

 and twelve colored plates by the author [ Chicago | A. C. McClurg & Co. | 1911. — 

 8vo, pp. xviii + 451. $2.75 net. 



