102 Hccent Li/erafure. [Ajiril 



is represented in North America bj' the single genus Saxicolcr, but 

 includes the Old World genera Pratincola, Ruticilla, etc. The group 

 Turdese includes the three genera Hylocichla. Turdtis, and Heaperocichhi. 

 The group Luscinese has for American representatives the genus Catha- 

 rus, and possibly Cyaneciila, which has been supposed to occur in Alaska. 

 The Merulea; includes Merula, Semimerula^ CicJilherminia, and Mimo- 

 cichla. The PlatjcichlejE includes Cossyphofsis (gen. nov., type Turdus 

 reevei I^a.\yr.^, jPlafycir/ila, and Tiirdampelis. The Mjadestese contains 

 the single genus Myadestes, from which, however, M. leucotts (Tschudi) 

 is removed, being transferred, as the type of a new genus Rntomodestes, 

 to the Ptilogonatidie. As regards the much 'emended' name Myadestes, 

 Dr. Stejneger revives Swainson's original orthography, which he main- 

 tains is correct. 



The genus Cichlhenninia., as Dr. Stejneger observes, has been regarded 

 as an intermediate link between the true Thrushes and the Mocking 

 Thrushes. But he affirms that this has resulted from the fact that very 

 diverse species have been associated under Cichlhenni}iia (vel Marga- 

 rops), a part of which are true Thrushes and part Mocking Thrushes. 

 Cichlherminia (type C. herminiei'i^, in a restricted sense, is retained 

 among the Turdinse, while the other species, forming the restricted genus 

 Margarops, are placed among the Miminze, the former alone being found 

 to have a booted tarsus. 



Dr. Stejneger's synopsis of the family extends only to the genera and 

 higher groups as represented in America. The generic synonymy is fully 

 given, and the generic diagnoses are supplemented by general remarks 

 and figures illustrative of the principal generic characters.— J. A. A. 



Coues on the Structure of Birds' Ears. — Dr. Coues, in a series of three 

 articles recently published in 'Science,'* gives a clear and detailed account 

 of the mechanism of the ear in birds, taking the human ear as the chief 

 basis of comparison. The articles are illustrated with figures — after 

 Parker and Ibsen — which aid greatly to a clear conception of the struct- 

 ures described. — ^J. A. A. 



Jeffries on the Epidermal System of Birds. t — Mr. Jeffries's paper, of 

 nearly forty pages and three plates, reports the results of his studies of 

 the epidermal appendages in birds, with reference to their structure, 

 development, and homologies. These appendages embrace the feathers, 

 scuta, claws, spurs, toe-pads, bill, combs, wattles, and the spines of the 

 tongue and mouth, which have been studied as found in the adult, and 

 their development traced from the fourth day of incubation. The struc- 

 ture of mature feathers is not considered, this part of the subject having 

 already received so much attention. Mr. Jeffries's investigations have 



* A Hearing of Birds' Ears. By Elliott Coues. Science, Vol. II, Nos. 34, 38, and 

 39, pp. 422-424, 552-554, 586-589, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 1883, figg. 9. 



t The Epidermal System of Birds. By J. Amory Jeffries. Proc. Boston See. Nat. 

 Hist., Vol. XXII, pp. 203-240, pll. iv-vi. ' Dec. 1883. 



