Recently published Ornithological Works. 451 



cubital coverts and a particular number of feathers in each 

 row are absolutely constant for all the individuals of the 

 same species, for all the species of the same genus, and for 

 all the genera in the same family or even order/^ For 

 instance, all the Acromyodine Passeres and nearly all the 

 Mesomyodians " exhibit absolutely the same general style of 

 wing-coverts/' which is not found in any other group of 

 birds. This principle applies also with more or less truth to 

 the other Orders. Mr. Goodchild points out eleven different 

 " styles " into which the Euornithes fall when considered 

 under this aspect, commencing with the " Cypseline Style '* 

 (the most simple) and ending with the " Tubinarine Style," 

 under which head he includes the Cathart^. '' So far as 

 Aving-style is concerned tlie American Vultures differ entirely 

 from the normal Birds of Prey, and exactly agree with the 

 Petrels, the Albatrosses, the Frigate-birds and the Adjutants.'^ 

 Mr. Goodchild has also made a discovery which may help to 

 solve the great mystery of " aquincubitalism ^' {of. Ibis, 1890, 

 p. 79). It would appear that '^ from the point where the 

 fifth cubital remex is missing there is a marked disturbance 

 in the position of all the coverts," But upon this intricate 

 subject we must refer our readers for further information to 

 the author's paper. 



74. Goss's Birds of Kansas. 



[History of tlie Birds of Ivansas. By N. S. Goss. Roj^al 8vo. Topeka, 

 Kansas: 1891.] 



Col. Goss has favoured us with a copy of his volume on 

 the Birds of Kansas, which we have great pleasure in com- 

 mending to our readers. It gives us an account of the 343 

 species and subspecies which have been recognized as occur- 

 ring within the limits of this central State of the American 

 Union. The arrangement and nomenclature followed are 

 naturally those of the A.O.U., and the descriptions are 

 mostly copied from the standard works on American 

 Ornithology. 



The volume is illustrated by " photo-gravures " of 529 



