z 7' 



Recent Literature. f J«'y 



these two forms, as well as of some bones of Ardea candidissima. The 

 paper concludes with a 'Synoptical and Comparative Review of the chief 

 Osteological Characters of certain species of North American Ardeina;. 

 -J. A. A. 



Shufeldt on the Relationships of the Genus Chamaea. * — Upon a care- 

 ful comparison of the structure, external and internal, of Chamaea with a 

 variety of more or less closely allied forms, Dr. Shufeldt finds its closest 

 agreement to be with the genus Psattripartis, and that it thus has dis- 

 tinctly Parine rather than Troglodytine affinities. The principal forms 

 with which comparisons were made are, among Wrens, the genera T/irv- 

 othorus, Salpinctes, Campylorhynchus, and Cinnicerthia; among Tits, the 

 genera Parus, Lophophanes, Psaltriparus, sEgithaliscus, and Auriparus; 

 among other birds, the genera Ccrthia, Regains, Polioptila, Accentor, 

 etc. He first compares in detail their pterylography and topographical 

 anatomy, and then their osteology and more or less their viseral anatomy. 

 Figures of the skulls are given of eight species, including of course 

 Chamaea. In the totality of its characters Chamcea is found to be much 

 more closely related to the Bush-Tits than to any of the Wrens, unless it 

 be the South American genus Cinnicerthia, which, however, is known 

 to Dr. Shufeldt only from an examination of skins and plates represent- 

 ing its external characters. The last-named genus he conjectures, we fear 

 without just grounds, may have, like Chamcea, Parine affinities. His pass- 

 ing remarks on Perisoreus are of interest, as showing that while in its ex- 

 ternal characters it so strongly recalls the Tits, it is essentially a Garruline 

 bird, a comparison of the skeleton of Perisoreus with that of Parus at 

 once dispelling the resemblance suggested by the external characters. — 

 J. A. A. 



Shufeldt's 'Studies of the Macrochires'. — Under this title f the author 

 treats at some length several forms not belonging to the group of Macro- 

 chires, as Ampelis cedrorum (pp. 306-318), Trogon mexicanus and T. 

 puella (pp. 31S-33S), and the North American Hirundinidre (pp. 352-355) 

 the latter with special reference to their relationship to the Swifts. Am- 

 pelis, as shown by Garrod, may be regarded as "an average Oscinine 

 bird," with, says Dr. Shufeldt, "here and there in its economy traces of a 

 Clamatorial type, such as is shown by its free lachrymal bone and a few 

 other minor points." It apparently has no close morphological relation- 

 ship with the Hirundinidze. In the present memoir it was chosen on 

 account of its average Passerine character for comparison with the other 

 forms treated. 



* On the position of Chamcea in the System. By R. W. Shufeldt. Journ. of Morph., 

 Vol. Ill, No. 3, pp. 475-502. 



f Studies of the Macrochires, Morphological and otherwise, with the view of indica- 

 ting their RelationshipS'and defining their several Positions in the System. By R. W- 

 Shufeldt, M. D., C. M. Z. S., Captain, Medical Corps, U. S. Army (communicated by 

 W. K. Parker, F. R. S., F. L. S.). Journ. Linn. Soc, Zoology, Vol. XX, pp. 299-394 

 pll. xvii-xxiv. (Published Oct., 1889.) 



