I 74 Recent Literature. 



of Cabot's type with Texan specimens of A. cerviniventrh shows that the 

 species are distinct. Comparative diagnoses are given of the two species, 

 with some remarks respecting their distribution. — J. A. A. 



IIarvie-Brown's Second Report on Scottish Ornithology*. — The 

 first third of the report gives a "Journal of the Winter of 1879-S0," and is 

 mainly a record of the weather, with references passim to the effect of 

 meterological conditions upon the movements of various species of birds, 

 especially in relation to the vernal migration. The remainder of the 

 report gives observations on some 05 to 70 species, mainly in relation to 

 their abundance at particular localities during the period named as com- 

 pared with former years. The importance of such a record, extended 

 through a series of years, especially in relation to the increase and decrease 

 of particular species, and to the causes to which such fluctuations are due. 

 is sufficiently obvious. The Redpolls {Linota linaria) are reported to 

 have warmly lined their nests with feathers in the unusually backward 

 cold spring of 1879. while at the same locality in the more favorable spring 

 of 1S80 they almost wholly neglected this precaution. The report abounds 

 with especially suggestive observations in relation to little understood 

 points in bird-life, and leads one to hope that not only these reports will 

 be continued, but that we shall have others equally detailed for other 

 districts, including, indeed, large portions of our own country. — J. A. A. 



Godman and Salvin's "Biologi a Centrali-Americana." — Part I of the 

 "Zoology" of this important workf appeared in September, 1879, atK ' nine 

 other parts have followed at short intervals, Part X, the last issued, bearing 

 date April, 1SS1. As the title indicates, the work treats of the fauna and 

 flora of Mexico and Central America, or of the region extending southward 

 from the United States and Mexican boundary to the Isthmus of Darien. 

 It is issued in parts, each averaging about 96 quarto pages of text and 6 

 hand-colored lithographic plates. The zoological portion is estimated to 

 form, when completed, about 12 volumes of 500 pages each. Each sub- 

 ject is paged separately, and will thus be complete in itself. The zoologi- 

 cal portion may be had separately, but the different subjects in zoology 

 will not be sold apart from the others. The editors of the work have been 

 collecting material for this great enterprise during the past twenty-two 



* Second Report on Scottish Ornithology — October 1st, 1879, to September 30th, 

 1880. Compiled by Mr. John A. Harvie-Brown, F. R. S. E. cvc. Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. 

 of Glasgow, Vol. IV, Part II, April 1880, pp. 291-326. (For notice of Report for 1878- 

 79 see this Bulletin, Vol. V, p. 233.) 



t Biologia Centrali-Americana; or, Contributions to the knowledge of the Fauna 

 and Flora of Mexico and Central America. Edited by F. Ducane Godman and 

 Osbert Salvin. Zoology, Parts I-X. Aves, by O. Salvin and F. D. Godman, pp. 

 1-152, pll. i-x. 4to. London : Published for the Editors by R. H, Porter, 10 Chandos 

 Street, Cavendish Square, W., and Dulau & Co., Soho Square. September, 1879- 

 April,i88i. 



