362 Recent Literature. \jnh- 



and less to the subspecies, filled with pertinent and well-digested informa- 

 tion. The nomenclature and general view-point is well up to date. Mar- 

 ginal headings clearly set off the topical divisions of the subject matter, 

 adding clearness of arrangement without sacrifice of space. The work 

 gives the impression of thoroughness and reliability, — in others words, 

 appears to be an excellent hand-book of European Oology, the plates 

 being good, and the typography all that need be desired. The work will 

 comprise ten parts, with 140 colored plates. — J. A. A. 



Hartert's ' Die Vogel der Palaarctischen Fauna,' Heft IV. 1 — Part IV of 

 this exceedingly useful work completes the Paridae, includes the families 

 Laniidse, Ampelidse, Brachypodidre, and Campephagidse, and begins the 

 family "Muscicapidse," which here includes the current families Sylviidae, 

 'Timeliidse,' and Turdidse, the author stating that it is impossible to sepa- 

 rate the families Muscicapidse, Sylviidse and Turdidae. The Muscicapidse 

 (sens, strict.) are all included in the present part, and the account of Phyl- 

 loscopus (Sylviidse auct.) is begun. About half-a-dozen subspecies are 

 characterized as new. 



The method of treatment is, of course, the same as in the former parts, 

 and has already been stated in notices of them in this journal. 2 The 

 present part includes species and subspecies Nos. 630-795. The general 

 criticisms made in our notices of previous parts are still applicable here, 

 and need not be repeated. Attention, however, may be called to a few 

 points which go to confirm them, as where (p. 394) it is said that " Regulus 

 satrapa muss als Unterart von Regulus regulus betractet werden"; and 

 where (p. 423) Lanius borealis is not only made a subspecies of L. excubitor 

 but all the various forms of L. ludovicianus, it is also declared, must be 

 regarded as subspecies of L. excubitor. In the key on p. 456, AmpeM? 

 cedrorum is given as a subspecies of A. garrulus] Such combinations give 

 the author's point of view in regard to the matter of subspecies, and may 

 well be borne in mind when other parts of the work are under consideration. 



He adopts Bombycilla Vieillot, 1807, for the Waxwings in place of Ampe- 

 lis Linne, 1766, remarking that through no process of elimination can 

 Ampelis be retained for the Waxwings. The reasons for a ruling so con- 

 trary to current usage would be welcome, none being here stated. — J. A. A. 



Beebe on the ' Owls of the Nearctic Region.' — The Eleventh Annual 

 Report of the New York Zoological Society contains two ornithological 

 papers, both by the Curator of Birds, Mr. C. William Beebe. The first 



1 Die Vogel | der palaarctischen Fauna. | Systematische Ubersicht | der | in 

 Europa, Nord-Asien und der Mittelmeerregion | vorkommenden Vogel. | Von | Dr. 

 Ernst Hartet. | — | Heft I V. | — | Seite 385-512. | Mit 32 Abbildungen. | — | Ber- 

 lin. | Verlag von R. Friedlander und Sohn. | Ausgegeben im Marz 1907. — 8vo, pp. 

 385-512. Preise4mark. 



2 Auk, XXI, pp. 95, 505, XXII, p. 428. 



