1S90.] Recent Literature. -77 



with figures, are given by Mr. Lucas, who compares them with the cor- 

 responding parts of P/ialacrocorax carbo, P. urile, and P. dilophus. 

 Mr. Lucas finds P. perspiciUatus "to have been a much heavier bird than 

 P. carbo, and a bird of weaker flight; with more robust and muscular 

 legs, and a more slender and more feeble head and neck." — J. A. A. 



Lucas on the Osteology of the Thrushes and Wrens.* — Mr. Lucas con- 

 cludes "that the Miminae hold a somewhat intermediate position between 

 the Wrens and Thrushes, and if the characters described are of sufficient 

 value to be considered family characters (which is extremely doubtful) 

 each of the groups under consideration seems to have equal right in that 

 respect. 



"The Wrens, as represented by the species in hand, form a harmonious 

 group, agreeing very closely with one another in their osteology, and 

 presenting some well-marked distinctive characters. 



"The Thrushes also, when compared with the Wrens, present well- 

 defined characters, and while differing among themselves more than do 

 the Wrens, these differences are nevertheless very slight. 



"Aside from Galeoscoptes, the Miminae are fairly well marked, having 

 a very characteristic shape to the maxillo-palatine process. This maxillo- 

 palatine is so entirely different from that of the Wrens that from what 

 little experience I have had I should hesitate to unite two groups so dis- 

 similar in this respect. On the other hand, Galeoscoptes has such decided 

 leanings toward the Thrushes, not only in its skull, but in other portions 

 of the skeleton, that it would seem to connect them with the Miminae. 

 Be this as it may, Galeoscoptes is certainly nearer to the Thrushes than 

 any other member of its group, while Harporhynchus seems to be the far- 

 thest removed." 



It would thus seem that the position of the Miminae as a subfamily of 

 the Turdidae was more in accordance with the osteological characters of 

 the Miminae than is its present position among the Troglodytidae. "In 

 fact," says Mr. Lucas, "it seems more and more clear that the Miminae 

 should not be included in the very sharply defined family Troglody- 

 tidae." On the other hand, he believes that the true affinities of both 

 Ckamtea and Certhia are with the Wrens. 



Mr. Lucas's important paper is illustrated with figures of the skull, 

 sternum, and pelvis in Merula, Catnpylorhynchus, and Harporhynchus. — 

 J. A. A. 



Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Ardeinae. f — This paper contains a 

 detailed description of the osteology of Ardea herodias and Nycticorax 

 violaccus, with excellent figures of the principal parts of the skeleton in 



* Notes on the Osteology of the Thrushes, Miminae, and Wrens. By Frederic A. 

 Lucas. Pioc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1888, pp. 173-180. 



t Osteological Studies of the Subfamily Ardeinae. By R. W. Shufeldt, M. D., 

 C. M. Z. S. Journ. Comp. Med. and Surg., July and October, " 1889. (Separates 

 repaged.) 



