174 Recent Literature. 



delawarensis, L. trirlacti/his, Coli/mhus septenfrionali'f, and Podicepa cornu- 

 tus. It is surprising that such species as Laiiius borealis, Passerctihis 

 savanna, ]\felospiza pahistris, Spizella pusilla, Accipitcr fuscits, Buteo line- 

 atus, Trinr/oides maculariux, and Porzana Carolina should have escaped 

 notice in the first list. 



That the present paper has undergone thorough and careful revision, 

 as well as increase in size by the addition of new species, is evidenced by 

 the different nature of the remarks under certain species. For example, 

 in the " Rathbun-Fowler List," PoUop/ila ccrrulea is said to be " Irregular 

 as to numbers, but never rare. Perhaps it breeds. Arrives from the 

 south in May." And Dendrceca atriata is given as "a very rare migrant." 

 In the present paper we find under the head of P. cceridea : " Rare. One 

 taken near Penn Yan, N. Y. No date given. Gilbert." And under D. 

 striata : " Common. Arrives the third week in May, and leaves the last 

 of September." Such radical changes as these show that Mr. Ratlibun 

 has critically re-examined the evidence on which his former statements 

 were based, and has spared no pains to render the " Revised List " thor- 

 oughly reliable and trustworthy in every respect. 



One point illustrates well the great value of giving exact data in the 

 place of conclusions drawn therefrom. In the old list, Anthns ludovicianus 

 was stated to be, " Not a rare spring and autumn migrant ; a few remain 

 and breed." In regard to this statement Mr. Allen Avrites, " We know not 

 as yet on what evidence the record of so improbable an occurrence is 

 made, but would suggest that it certainly needs strong backing, the locality 

 being climatically and topographically so wholly unlike that usually chosen 

 by this exceedingly boreal species as its breeding station." (Bull. Nutt. 

 Ornith. Club, Vol. Ill, No. 1, p. 35, Jan., 1878 ) Hence it is with pecu- 

 liar interest that Ave read the following remarks, in the " Revised List," 

 upon the species now under consideration : "A common migrant. Seen 

 May 14, 1878. Departs the last of October. (Observed in the breeding 

 season, May 18th, Gilbert.) " Now the publication of this date (" May 1 8 ") 

 throws a Hood of light upon the whole matter, clears it up, and explains 

 the breeding statement ifi a most satisfactory manner. A bird which is 

 known to breed on the cold and barren I'ocky shores of Labrador and the 

 Arctic regions would naturally be expected to pass us, on its northward 

 journey, long before the warm sun and advance of vegetation had caused the 

 greater part of our summer residents to commence nesting; but this is not 

 the case with the present species. The Titlark seems in no hurry to reach 

 its bleak and desolate Arctic home, but loiters slowly along to enjoy the 

 spring sunshine and verdure of the districts over Avhich it passes. During 

 the spring migration they usually pass through Lewis County, N. Y., 

 about the middle of May, and last season (1878) I shot two as late as 

 May'21st; hence it is not at all surprising that Mr. Gilbert should have 

 found it at Penn Yan, May 18. The occurrence of the following species 

 (many of them breeding) in Central New York is worthy of note from its 



