482 BihliograpMcal Notices. 



Prof. C. S. Roy contains the clearest explanation of aerial motion 

 with which we are acquainted ; and Dr. Shufeldt, formerly of the 

 United States Array, has assisted. It only remains to say, as an 

 indication of the care bestowed upon the work, that the Xotanda et 

 Corrigenda occupy nearly 4 pp. of small print. 



Trouessari's ' Catalogus 3fammalium.'' Fasciculus III., completing 

 the Rodentia, pp. 453-664. Berlin, 1897. 



The issue of the third fasciculus of this important work so closely 

 following the second shows that the author is well advanced with 

 his material. Needless to say, the present part maintains the high 

 level of its predecessors, and Dr. Trouessart is to be congratulated 

 on having got through such a difficult group as the Rodentia, 

 especially when fossil forms have to be wedged in among their 

 recent relatives. 



In this section the author has had the advantage of consulting 

 Mr. Thomas's recent revision of the Rodentia, which appeared too 

 late for incorporation in the preceding part. While adopting the 

 revision to a great extent, Dr. Trouessart has seen reason to depart 

 from it in some particulars : notably, he refuses to admit the super- 

 session of the familiar Myoxus by the forgotten Glis, and conse- 

 quently retains Myoxidte in place of Gliridae. Whether the reasons 

 he gives for the retention will be accepted by the " innovation 

 school " remains to be seen : it is to be hoped they will. Most 

 zoologists will be glad to see that Cricehis retains its place against 

 Hamster ; and it appears that this settlement rests on a firmly 

 established basis of fact. The adoption of the barbarous Couendu 

 for the South-American Tree-Porcupines is, however, distinctly to 

 be regretted, and still more so the substitution of the new Coendidse 

 for the Erithizontidae of Mr. Thomas. It appears that the reason 

 for this substitution is the mistaken notion that the earliest generic 

 name in a family must necessarily be the one from which the 

 family name is taken. 



In regard to extinct forms, it is a pity that the author regards 

 the Tertiary beds of Patagonia as of Eocene age, and still more so 

 that he admits the endless host of nominal species which have been 

 named by the Argentine palaeontologists. 



It is also a subject for regret that the references to the various 

 genera throughout the work have not been given, instead of merely 

 the date of publication. Errors and misprints are exceedingly few ; 

 but since the author adheres to the original spelling of names, there 

 is no doubt that Limacomys (p. 470) should stand as Leimacomys, 

 although the former is really the proper way of transliterating. 



We look forward to have ere long the pleasure of congratulating 

 Dr. Trouessart on the completion of his arduous task. R. L. 



