^IJ. Recent Literature. [October 



Osteologically, Molothriis and Pipilo are not so very unlike." While all 

 this may be true, so far as the skeleton may afford a clue to affinities, 

 other features, we are convinced, obviously point to a decidedly Icterine 

 affinity, rather than Fringilline, for both Molothrtis and Dolic/ionyx, par- 

 ticularly the texture and general character of the plumage, their musky 

 Icterine odor, pose, carriage and habitus in general. These in themselves 

 are but superficial indices and traits of character, so to speak, which point 

 to an Icterine ancestry, and general Icterine structure. It should be further 

 noted that some of the exotic species o( Molothriis make a close approach 

 to the genus A^elaius, and'that Neospar, Curicus, and Leistes are not far 

 removed. 



Among the Oscines we should not, a priori, look for evidence in the 

 skeleton to decide nice points in affinity so much as to other and more 

 superficial clues to relationship. In further illustration of this general 

 point is Dr. Shufeldt's conclusion that the true affinities of the Magpie are 

 Corvine and not Garruline, although this bird may be, as Dr. Shufeldt 

 puts its, "so faras its skeleton is concerned . . . . a Crow, pure and simple." 

 While it is important to compare birds of allied groups in respect to 

 minute osteological differences and resemblances, the results are obvious- 

 ly, as Dr. Shufeldt so strongly affirms, to be correlated with the general 

 structure, and conclusions, respecting affinities, to be final, must rest on 

 more than a single system of characters. 



The plates give figures of skull and pelvis of Sttirnella m. neglecta 

 and Pica pica htidsouica, the pelvis of Corviis americaniis, and the skull 

 oi Xanthocephalus xauthocephalus (two examples). — ^J. A. A. 



Shufeldt on the Skeleton of the Carolina Rail. — Another recent paper 

 by Dr. Shufeldt contains a detailed description of the osteology of Porza- 

 na Carolina,* with figures of the principal elements of the skeleton. The 

 pelvis is found to possess many points in common with that of Geococcyx, 

 each having a probosis and the same peculiar pattern of the pre-acetabular 

 portion of the ilium. Various rather peculiar modifications of other skel- 

 etal elements are pointed out. — J. A. A. 



Vernacular Ornithology. t — This is a wonderful world of checks, 

 balances, compensations, and reactionary running-geai*. For exam- 

 ple, the A. O. U. Committee has upset all the technical names of 

 birds that could thus hardly be dealt with, and Mr. Trumbull has set up 

 all the vernacular names that could be treated understandingly. Thus 

 ornithology fattens and flourishes, as on loaves and fishes; for has not 

 our author wrought a veritable miracle; namely, the filling of a 'long-felt 



*Os\eo\ogy oi Porza7ta Carolina. (The Carolina Rail.) By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D. 

 C. M. Z. S. 8vo, pp. i6, with 7 cuts in the text. Reprinted from the 'Journal of Com- 

 parative Medicine and Surgery,' July, 1888. 



t Names | and | Portraits of Birds | which interest gunners | with descriptions | In 

 language understanded of the People \ by Gurdon Trumbull | New York | Harper & 

 Brothers, Franklin Square | 1888 | i vol. 8vo. pp. viii, 222. 



