42 Recent Literature. 



rostris, Baird MSS.), from Southern Mexico, and y. verticalis, Ridgw., from 

 Merida, Yucatan ; and" a new variety of Loxigilla violacea (j3. bahamensix, 

 Ridgw.), from the Bahamas. Anas aberti is described as a new species 

 from Mazatlan, Mexico, and a description is given of the female of the 

 recently-discovered A. wyvilliana, of which only the male was previously 

 known. The two new species from Costa Rica, described in the third paper 

 above cited, are Thryophilus zeledoni, Lawr. MSS., and Pseudocolaptes 

 lawrencii, Ridgw. 



Of the genus Tyrannus Mr. Ridgway recognizes thirteen species,* only 

 one of which, the wide-ranging and varial>Ie T. melancholicus, is sub- 

 divided into races, of which three are recognized, namely, a. melancholicus, 

 j3. couchi, y. satrapa. One species, T. luggeri, is described as new. In the 

 second part of the same paper are described a new variety of Lichenops 

 perspiciUatus (/3. andinux, Ridgw.) from Chili ; a new variety of Dacnis 

 pulcherrima (/3. aureinucha, Ridgw.) from Ecuador, and a new variety of 

 Parus rufescens (/3. neglectus, Ridgw.) from the coast of California, which 

 differs from typical rufescens in having the sides grayish, or only slightly 

 tinged with rusty. 



These papers all notably evince Mr. Ridgway's well-known acuteness of 

 discrimination, and critical care in description and diagnosis, the distinc- 

 tive features of the several forms being clearly and concisely designated. 

 Full synonymy is also given in each case. — J. A. A. 



McChesxey's Notes on the Birds of Fort Sisseton, Dakota 

 Territory. — Dr. McChesney's " Notes on the Birds of Fort Sisseton " f 

 form a valuable contribution to the ornithology of a little known portion 

 of the Northwest, namely, the elevated plateau in Dakota known as the 

 " Coteau des Prairies." This plateau, with an elevation of some four hun- 

 dred feet above the level of the surrounding country, has a length of over 

 one hundred miles, with a variable width of twenty to fifty. The many 

 lakes that diversify its surface form the haunts of " thousands of Waders 

 and Wild-fowl," and it differs in its fauna in other respects from the sur- 

 rounding lower country. The " Notes " are based on an experience of 

 three years in the neighborhood of Fort Sisseton, and record 157 species, 

 respecting most of which there are copious and interesting annotations. 

 The list, as would be expected, embraces nearly all of the prairie birds of 

 the Great Plains, but the locality is near the eastern limit of the range of 



* 1. Tyrannus magnirostris, 2. T. rostratus, 3. T. dominicensis, 4. T. caro- 

 linensis, 5. T. crassirostris, 6. T. melancholicus, 7. T. albicjularis, 8. T. aiMlites, 

 9. T. niveigulnris, 10. T. verticalis, 11. T.vociferans, 12. T. luggeri (sp. nov. ), 

 13. T. aurantio-atricristatus. 



t Notes on the Birds of Fort Sisseton, Dakota Territory. By Chas. E. 

 McChesney, Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. Bulletin U. S. Geol. and 

 Geograph. Survey of the Territories, Vol. V, pp. 71-104. Feb. 28, 1879. 



