iS;o.] Recent Literature. ^70 



Two specimens from Fort Verde, Arizona, in the collection ot 

 Dr. Mearns agree closely with the Lower California birds in the 

 color of the wings and the character of the dorsal spotting, but in 

 other respects they are intermediate between the Lower California 

 and Eastern birds. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Sclater's Catalogue of the Tracheophonae.* — The Tracheophone pass- 

 eres, as is well-known, are restricted to the warmer parts of the two Amer- 

 ican continents, being for the most part tropical intheir distribution. Thev 

 comprise the four families Dendrocolaptidiv, Formicariidae, Conopopha- 

 gidse, and Pteroptochidaa. and differ from other Passeres in the peculiar 

 modification of the lower end of the trachea for the production of vocal 

 sounds. They are birds of mostly small size, the largest not much exceeding 

 the stature of a Jay, the average size being that of a small Thrush. They 

 vary greatly in form and habits, and are mostly denizens of the thicket or 

 the forest. Many of the Dendrocolaptidae resemble the Tree-creepers in 

 form and habits, having stiffened spiny tails and the same manner of 

 life. Other forms of the same family are terrestrial, and are remarkable for 

 the large domed clay nests they construct, from which they derive the name 

 of Oven-birds. The Formicariidce are likewise very variable in form, some 

 of them being decidedly Shrike-like, while others are more like Thrushes 

 and Warblers, and still others, as regards external form, recall the Pittas 

 of the Old World. The Pteroptochida* may be compared to gigantic 

 Wrens. 



In the present volume 559 species are recognized, of which 271 belong 

 to the Dendrocolaptidre, 256 to the Formica riidse, 1 1 to the Conopopha- 

 gidae, and 21 to the Pleroptochidae. Of these 531 are represented in the 

 British Museum collection, the number of specimens aggregating 44S2. 

 Many other species are referred to in foot-notes, which, says the author, 

 "may ultimately turn out to be perfectly valid," only such species as the 

 author has seen being, as a rule, admitted ! 



The style of treatment is the same as in the same author's previous 

 volumes of the series, noticed in former numbers of this journal. The 



^Catalogue | of the | Passeriformes, | or | Perching Birds | in the | Collection | of 

 the I British Museum. | — | Tracheophonae, | or the Families | Dendrocolaptidae, | 

 Formicariidas, | Conopophagidae, and Pteroptochidas. | By | Philip Lutley Sclater. | 

 London : | Printed by order of the Trustees. | 1890. — 8vo, pp. xviii X 37^, pll. xx. 

 (Volume XV of the 'Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum.') 



