Recent Literature. J 85 



hand ami Messrs. Ridgway and Elliot on the other, the fourteen genera 

 of Ibises recognized by Elliot forming only two in Reichenow's system, 

 while the contrast is perhaps greater between the Avork of the latter and 

 Mr. Ridgway's, so far as they cover common ground. 



While differing from Dr. Reichenow respecting important principles of 

 nomenclature, and on various points of classification, we can but accord to 

 his paper a high importance, as it evinces laborious and careful research, and 

 embraces a vast amount of information, succinctly and lucidly presented, 

 that will be of great service to future workers in the same field. — J. A. A. 



Brewer's Supplement to his Catalogue of New England Birds. 

 — This paper* adds twenty-one species to the "Catalogue of the Birds of 

 New England," published by this author in 1875, and contains notes on 

 twenty-seven other species of rare occurrence in New England. The 

 record of rare captures and of additions to the New England avian fauna 

 is faithfully brought down to date, this brochure forming a most valuable 

 appendix to his former "Catalogue." The whole number of "recognized 

 forms " now admitted by him as having been taken in New England is 

 three hundred and fifty-six. " To show," says our author, " the zeal and 

 industry with which the knowledge of our fauna has been studied and ex- 

 tended, it needs only to be mentioned that the list now contains the 

 names of not less than forty species not positively known to occur in New 

 England prior to 1874, although the occasional appearance of some five or 

 six had been looked for by several prophetic observers. This does not in- 

 clude seven species whose names had been borne on previous lists, but 

 Avithout any recorded evidence of their right to be there. It moi'eover in- 

 cludes two or three forms that some do nut recognize as of specific value, 

 and one whose very existence as a species appears to call for more evi- 

 dence before its reality can be fully admitted." — J. A. A. 



Saunders on the Larin^. — The writer is indebted to the author 

 for the early sheets of this very interesting, thorough, and discriminating 

 review t of the family of Gulls, and although there is much in this paper 

 throwing a welcome and greatly needed light upon several other than 

 North American species, only the latter will be here considered. The 

 whole number of species recognized in this paper is forty-nine, of which 

 number twenty may be counted as North American, in which are included 

 two. Lams canus and L. affitiis, of purely accidental occurrence. It is not 

 a little remarkalde that Larus affinis, now recognized as a well-marked 

 species, should have been first described by Professor Reinhardt from an 

 individual that had straggled to Greenland. The investigations of See- 



* Notes on certain Species of New England Birds, with Additions to his 

 Catalogue of the Birds of New England. By T. M. Brewer. Proc. Boston Soc. 

 Nat. Hist., Vol. XIX, pp. 301-309, April, 1878. 



t From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London [pp. 155-212], 

 February 5, 1878. 



vol. III. 13 



