Recent Literature. VJ\ 



ornithologists. In response to Mr. Ridgway's call for an expression of 

 opinion on the subject of trinomials, we have taken this occasion to pre- 

 sent freely our own view of the case, — for whatever it may be worth. — 

 J. A. A. 



[In reply to Mr. Ridgway's request for the views of other ornithologists, 

 we may state that we are more than ever satisfied of the expediency of 

 using trinomials ; and we coincide with Mr. Allen's view that the}' had 

 better be written " pure and simple." In evidence that we practice what 

 we preath, we refer to the " Birds of the Colorado Valley," and other 

 writings or editings of ours of the past two or three years. We wish that 

 all contributors to this Bulletin would adopt this rule. — E. C] 



Cory ox the Birds of the Magdalen Islands.* — In a sumptu- 

 ous little quarto Mr. C. B. Cory has given an account of a sunnner trip to 

 the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, undertaken, as he tells 

 us, primarily for ornithological purposes. Part I consists of a general 

 account of the Islands, more especially of the Bird Rocks, the record of a 

 day's sporting on Grindstone Island, and directions how to reach the 

 Magdalen group, etc. Pnrt II gives a list of one hundred and nine spe- 

 cies observed or taken by the author, and fifteen others that he believes 

 may be found thei'e at other seasons of the year. The annotations relate 

 mainly to the habits and relative abundance of the species. Especially 

 noteworthy is the occurrence of the Piping Plover (jEf/ialitis vieloda 

 circumcincta), which is stated to be an " abundant species." The speci- 

 mens brought home by Mr. Cory not only affirm its occurrence there, but 

 represent typically the so-called ciicumcinctn. Less satisfactory is the 

 record of the Catbird (Mimua carnliiiensis), which is included " with hesi- 

 tation," and on Mr. Cory's having heard what he " believed to be its 

 peculiar cry." As the Magdalen Islands are far beyond its known or 

 probable rHUge, perhaps it may not be unjust to suggest that stronger 

 evidence may be requisite before it can be properly allowed a place in the 

 fauna of these Islands. Most of the species of the list, it may be stated, 

 are given only on the basis of actual capture. — J. A. A. 



Roosevelt's Notes on some of the Birds of Oyster Bay, 

 Long Island. — This is a brochure of a single leaf, containing notes on 

 seventeen species, observed at the above-named locality, by Mr. Theodore 

 Roosevelt. The date of publication is "March, 1879." Several of the 

 species are given as rare to the locality, while the observations respecting 

 others are of interest. — J. A. A. 



* A Naturalist in the Magdalen Islands ; giving a Description of the Island.s, 

 and List of the Birds taken there, with other Ornithological Notes. By Charles 

 B. Cory. Illustrated from Sketches by the Author. Boston, 1878. Small 4to. 

 Part II, Catalogue of Birds taken or observed in the Magdalen Islands, with 

 Notes regarding those found breeding, etc., etc. pp. 33-83. 



