1S84.I Recent Literature. 28 1 



treated ; the principal changes in the t^roup as a whole are the de.Ljredation 

 of a few commonly recognized species to suhspecies, and apparently on 

 wholly reasonable grounds. 



The family Certhiid;e includes the Nuthatches as well as the Tree- 

 Creepers. To Ccrt/iia familiaris are referred unconditionally all the 

 Tree-Creepers of Europe and North America, except jnexicatia, which ranks 

 as a subspecies, with a range extending northward along the Pacific coast to 

 Oregon. The birds from Vancouver Island are said to be 'like those from 

 Canada,' yet in the list of specimens cited under 'p. C. afiicricana' is one 

 from 'Vancouver Island.' While C. familiaris extends eastward in the 

 Old World to Japan, three other species of Certhia are recognized as occur- 

 ring in the Himalayan region. Sitta carolinc7isis aculeata is referred to 

 6'. carolinensis, with the remark, "the difference between an eastern form 

 (5. carolinetisis) and a western variety (5. aculeata) is said to be that the 

 western individuals have the bill slightly larger [.</r], and that they have 

 the greater wing coverts [5/c] less black than the true 5. carolineiisis.''^ 

 And yet the author cites examples from the Rocky Mountains, California, 

 and Mexico! Sitta villosa Verr. et auct., of Northern China, is made a 

 subspecies of Sitta cattadc?isis! It is said to be "scarcely specifically dis- 

 tinct from the widely ranging North American 5. canadensis " although 

 it lacks the 'black patch on the sides of. the neck' present in canadensis, 

 these parts being 'creamy whitish' in villosa. Is this case to be taken as 

 a test of the author's idea of 'subspecies'.? And if Sitta carolinensis acu- 

 leata, with its slender bill and indistinct black markings on the inner 

 seco?idaries (not 'greater coverts,' which in both forms are clear ashy blue) 

 is not to be recognized as a 'race,' what are we to infer is his standard for 

 a 'race '.'' 



In general. Dr. Gadow inclines to the recognition of comprehensive 

 groups, from families downward. His reduction in genera and species 

 from the hitherto current status is very marked. We believe the tendency 

 to be a wholesome one, and that, in the main, his reductions are made 

 with reason, but there are a few cases where we should hesitate stronglj' 

 before accepting his rulings, as regards both genera and species. His 

 subspecies are obviously what in this countrj' we should consider as dis- 

 tinct though closely allied species, in most cases no intergradation being 

 shown, while in some, from the nature (geographical) of the case, 

 intergradation would be impossible. On the other hand, his 'races' 

 correspond to what we should rank as subspecies. In other instances, geo- 

 graphical variation is pointed out, but the differentiated forms are not 

 recognized in nomenclature, although apparently well-marked, being, in 

 fact, forms which we should regard as subspecific and entitled to nomencla- 

 tural recognition. Perhaps, however, he here errs not more on the side 

 of consolidation than we on this side of the water have been at times 

 prone to do in the direction of undue subdivision. 



In method of execution, the present volume is strictly in accord with its 

 predecessors, and is neither less valuable nor less welcome. — J. A. A. 



