^SaP] Recent Literature . Ijj 



technical remarks, that Mr. Richmond's well-annotated paper is doubly 

 welcome. His collections and observations were made between Feb. i, 

 1S92, and Jan. 19, 1893, all but three months of this time being passed in 

 Nicaragua on the Escondido River, fifty miles from Bluefields. 



The results of a study of his specimens, in connection with the collec- 

 tions of the United States National Museum, as set forth in this paper, 

 are as follows : Trogon chrysomelas, a form allied to Trogon atricollis 

 tenellus, is described as new; Eleopicus Bp. is substituted for Dendrobates 

 Swains., 1831, preoccupied by Dendrobates Wagler, 1830 (Batrachia). 

 A series of 17 specimens of Porzana cinereicefs Lawr. apparently shows 

 that Porzana leucogaster Ridgw. is founded on individual variation in 

 that species. No reason is given for relegating the Tinamous to their 

 ancient position between the Quails and Plovers, while Tanagra p alma- 

 rum is presumably a slip for Tanagra fialmarum melanoptera. 



The results of Mr. Richmond's studies of living birds are too numerous 

 to be mentioned within the limits of a brief review. His list includes 242 

 species of land-birds, and 39 species of water-birds. Concerning the 

 habits of many of these he makes numerous interesting and valuable 

 observations. He considerably extends the range of several species, e. g., 

 Progne stibt's kesperia, Myrmelastes lawrencii, and Panyptila cayetinetisis ," 

 gives the dates of arrival of many species of North American migrants, 

 and makes some suggestive remarks on the movements of tropical birds. 

 Being present during the breeding season he had an opportunity to study 

 the nesting habits of some species, and he remarks (p. 482) "it is inter- 

 esting to note that in the tropics many species lay but two eggs," a state- 

 ment supported by his experience with Merula grayi, Rha?nphocelus pas- 

 serini, Oryzoborus furnereus, Rmbernagra striati'ceps, Glyphorhynchus 

 cuneatus, and other species. 



The biographical notes are evidently based on the careful observations 

 of a skilled observer, and the paper is therefore an important contribution 

 to our limited knowledge of the life-histories of tropical birds. — F. M. C. 



Ogilvie-Grant's 'Catalogue of the Game Birds. 1 — In Volume XXII of 

 the British Museum Catalogue of Birds Mr. Ogilvie-Grant gives us a most 

 welcome contribution to the history of the Game Birds of the World. As 

 here treated they constitute four 'orders', namely, (1) the Pterocletes or 

 'Pigeon-Grouse,' more commonly known as Sand-Grouse, comprising 3 

 genera and 17 species; (2) the Gallinse, divided into two suborders, the 

 first, Alectoropodes, including all of the true gallinaceous birds, and the 



1 Catalogue | of the | Game Birds | (Pterocletes, Gallinre, Opisthocomi, Hemi- 

 podii) I in the | Collection | of the | British Museum. | By | W. R. Ogilvie-Grant. | 

 London : | Printed by order of the Trustees. | Sold by | Longmans & Co., 39 Pater- 

 noster Row; I B. Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly; Dulau & Co., 37 Soho Square, W. ; | Regan 

 Paul & Co., Paternoster House, Charing Cross Road; | and at the | British Museum 

 (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S. W. | 1893. = Catalogue of the Birds in the 

 British Museum, Volume XXII. 8vo., pp. xvi + 585, pll. viii. 



