62 Recent Literature. V)™. 



White-fronted Pigeon now becomes Homoptila brachyptera (Salvad.). 1 

 The name brachyptera must of course date from Salvadori, 1893, the name 

 being then for the first time properly established. 



There is, however, among the alleged synonyms of brachyptera a still 

 earlier name, to wit, Leptoptita fulviventris Lawrence, 18S2, which Sal- 

 vadori, after an examination of the type, places here. He remarks, how- 

 ever, "Some Yucatan specimens {L. fulviventris Lawr.) are more fulvous 

 on the flanks, and, perhaps, less bright on the hind neck; generally they 

 have the forehead more vinous, but some specimens from other localities 

 match them in this respect." An examination of the type and several 

 other Yucatan specimens labelled by Mr. Lawrence as L. fulviventris, in 

 the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, however, 

 seems to render their reference here extremely doubtful, they differing 

 greatly from a large series of Texas and Mexican specimens of '■albifrons,'' 

 apparently much more nearly agreeing with Homoptila vcrrcauxi (Bon.), 

 especially in the large amount of rufous on the inner web of the quills. 

 It hence seems much safer to take the name brachyptera for the northern 

 bird, usually heretofore known as albifrons. Probably a number of the 

 forms in this genus ranked by Salvadori as species will eventually be 

 found to be entitled to recognition merely as subspecies or geographical 

 forms.— J. A. A. 



Elliot's Monograph of the Pittidae. 2 — 'A Monograph of the Pittidae,' 

 published in 1863, was the first of the long series of finely illustrated mono- 

 graphs for which ornithologists are so deeply indebted to Mr. D. G. Elliot. 

 In the interval of thirty years that has elapsed since its first appearance 

 our knowledge of the group has greatly increased, many species in the 

 meantime having been described, and the habits and relationships of the 

 others have become better known. It is therefore peculiarly fitting that 

 the group should be again monographed by the same hand. This 

 "second edition, revised and enlarged," is practically a new work, not 

 only much new matter being added, but the whole is rewritten, and the 

 nomenclature much altered. The work is to form five parts, each part to 

 contain ten plates; the new plates being drawn by Mr. W. Hart, while 

 the old ones are by the author. The species figured in Part I are Eticichla 

 gurneyi, E. schwaneri, Pitta moluccensis, P. maxima, P. venusta, P. 



1 Perist'era brachyptera G. R. Gray, List Bds. Brit. Mus., Columbas, 1856, p. 54 



(1101110/ nudum). 



Leptoptila brachyptera Salvad., Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. XXI, 1893, p. 545. 



Homoptila brachyptera Allen, MS. 

 ■ Leptoptila albifrons Sclater (nee Bon.) P. Z. S., 1857, p. 214, and of most subsequent 

 writers. 



2 A Monograph of the Pittidse, or Family of Ant-Thrushes. By D. G. Elliot, F. R. 

 S. E., etc. Second Edition, revised and enlarged. Part I. London : Bernard Quaritch, 

 15 Piccadilly, W. April, 1893. Folio, 10 colored Plates and text. 



