Vol. XIV 
Sag7 Recent Literature. 4 I 9 
by the ‘Key to the Species’ (pp. 13-29), and then by formal descriptions, 
in systematic sequence, of the North American species of Limicolz. 
Both the ‘Key’ and the body of the work are profusely illustrated with 
half-tone and line cuts of heads, feet, tail-markings, etc., with some full- 
length figures, which, with the key and the descriptive text, must serve 
to make identification a simple matter. Besides the technical descrip- 
tions, a brief account is given of the distribution and life history of each 
species. —J. A. A. 
Chapman’s ‘Handbook,’ 4th Edition.'— The increasing demand for 
ornithological text-books is shown by the fact that the publishers of this 
work have issued a fourth edition of this work within two years of its pub- 
lication. The present edition differs from the preceding ones through some 
slight alterations in the text and in the addition of an ‘Appendix,’ givinga 
list of the numerous changes in nomenclature, ‘etc., which have occurred 
since the appearance of the first edition.— J. A. A. 
Hartert on the Podargide, Caprimulgide and Macropterygide. — The 
first part of the division of ‘Das Tierreich’ devoted to Aves is by 
Mr. Hartert, and includes the three families Podargide, Caprimulgide 
and Macropterygide, or the Goatsuckers and Swifts.?, For this work Mr. 
Hartert is especially fitted, being the monographer, five years ago, of these 
same groups for the British Museum ‘ Catalogue of Birds.’? The consid- 
erable number of species described since the appearance of the ‘Cata- 
logue,’ are here duly interpolated, but there are comparatively few changes 
in nomenclature. Vanochordetles is a new generic division for Chordezles 
pusillus Gould, while Cosmetornts is suppressed. The family name 
Cypselide gives place to Macropterygide, and we have Afgzs in place of 
Micropus, and Apodine in place of Cypseline,—these changes being 
adopted from Dr. A. Reichenow, but they are apparently not tenable.* 
The text consists of brief diagnoses of all the groups, from families 
to subspecies, with analytical tables, and the citation of the synonymy 
‘Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. ... By Frank M. Chap- 
man. I2mo, pp. xiv-+ 431. Fourth Edition. New York. D. Appleton & 
Co. 1897. $3.00. 
? Podargide, Caprimulgide und Macropterygide bearbeitet von Ernst 
Hartert, Direktor des Zoologischen Museums in Tring (England). Mit 16 
Abbildungen im Texte. Berlin: Verlag von R. Friedlander und Sohn. = Das 
Tierreich. Eine Zusammenstellung und Kennzeichnung der rezenten Tier- 
formen. Herausgegeben von der Deutschen Zoologischen Gessellschaft. 
General Redakteur: Franz Eilhard Schulze.—1. Leiferung. Aves. Redakteur : 
A. Reichenow. —8vo, pp. viii -- 98. (Subscription price, 4.50 marks.) 
3 Cf. Auk, X, 1893, pp. 67, 68. 
4 Cf. Stejneger, Science, N. S., V, No. 126, p. 847, May 28, 1897. 
