lob Recent Literature. [April 



Lucas on the Osteology of the Spotted Tinamou. — These 'Notes'* 

 point out briefly various osteological differences between the present 

 species and some of its allies, as described and figui-ed by Parker. Figures 

 are given of the skull and pelvis. — J. A. A. 



Shufeldt on Bird Skulls and Sterna collected by Dr. Streets.! — This 

 report relates to the skulls and sterna of 13 species, mostly water-fowl. 

 They include such various types as Urinator, Daption, Pelecanoides, 

 Cepfhus, Sula, JLarus, Chlcephaga, Ardea, Nycticorax, Geococcyx, and 

 CorvHs. The sternum of Daption capensis, with the shoulder girdle hi 

 situ, is figured; also the skulls oi Chloefhaga poliocepkala, Nycticorax 

 ?iycticorax ncevius, and Corvus corax sinuatus. — J. A. A. 



Chamberlain's 'Systematic Table of Canadian Birds.' — We are in 

 receipt of a second work by Mr. Montague Chamberlain on the birds 

 of Canada. This, as the titlej indicates, is a tabular list of the birds 

 of Canada, as given in the same authors' 'Catalogue of Canadian birds.* 

 The 'Systematic Table' is thus a 'check-list' and a 'table of higher groups' 

 combined. The names of orders and suborders form subheadings, while 

 the names of families, subfamilies, genera, subgenera, species, and sub- 

 species, English names, and current numbers are arranged in parallel 

 columns, each species or subspecies thus occupying a line running across 

 the page. This arrangement requires a very broad page, but will doubtless 

 subserve a useful purpose. 



In the 'Introduction' to this work the author gives a condensed sketch 

 of the history of American ornithology, particularly since 1859. ^^ ^^^° 

 notes the tendency to extreme conservatism i-especting species and sub- 

 species, etc., among Canadian naturalists as compared with those of the 

 United States, a conservatism obviously resulting from a diiference of 

 attitude respecting the "evolution theory of the origin of species." This 

 theory, Mr. Chamberlain says, while accepted by the greater part "of the 

 scientific men of the United States .... as an established fact, rather than 

 a mere hypotliesis," is considered "by Canadian students, as a rule, as 'not 

 proven.'" This state of affairs seems to have suggested "that an associa- 

 tion of Canadian ornithologists be organized, and that this society 

 undertake the formulation of a system of classification and nomenclature 

 which shall more truly reflect the ideas on the subject which are current 

 in the Dominion." Mr. Chamberlain, while conceding that the formation 

 of such an association might greatly promote the advancement of ornithol- 



* Notes on the Osteology of the Spotted Tinamou {Nothura maculosa). By Frederic 

 A. Lucas. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1887, pp. 157, 158 (July 2, 1887). 



t On a Collection of Birds' Sterna and Skulls, collected by Dr. Thomas H. Streets, 

 U. S. Navy. By Dr. R. W. Shufeldt. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., pp. 376-387 (Sept. 27 

 to Nov. 3, 1887). 



J A Systematic Table | of | Canadian Birds. | By | Montague Chamberlain. | Pub- 

 lished for the Author. | St. John, N. B. | 1888. Fol, pp. 14. 



