The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 



Vol. XXXV. 



and other published lists? As far as Mr. 

 Swarth was concerned they were no more 

 than specific binomials. In this connec- 

 tion it is interesting to note that the author 

 consistently applies the binomial Passerella 

 iliaca, the Fox Sparrow, to all the sub- 

 species collectively, and differentiates the 

 type form as the Eastern Fox Sparrow 

 Passerella iliaca iliaca, definitely nam- 

 ing it as a subspecies on a par with the 

 others. All this is in perfect harmony with 

 the views for which the present reviewer 

 has lately been severely criticised. There 

 seems much in this paper to justify his 

 stand. 



It is also to be noted, as showing a nat- 

 ural trend of tlie present subspecies maker, 

 that the author has found it expedient to 

 use gi'oup names for associations of his 

 subspecies ; so we have arrived at the stage 

 of tihe super-subspecies in spirit if not 

 in fact. With an extension of this prin- 

 ciple and more thoroughly developed per- 

 ceptions we are faced wityli the possibility 

 of super-subspecies and sub -subspecies un- 

 til we may be forced to adopt algebraic 

 formulae or chemical symbols for the 

 representation of the more involved re- 

 lationships, an eventuality not without some 

 promise. 



These groups as defined by Mr. Swarth 

 are plainly recognizable entities and as 

 such must be taken into consideration as 

 well to systematize a complicated idea as 

 to properly reflect zoological facts. The 

 component partis of these groups are, as 

 said before, less obvious and it is debat- 

 able whether or no it is not sufficient 

 for the general worker to lump ttoem un- 

 der their group associations, leaving the 



finer determinations to the specializing 

 expert. In this particular case, one so- 

 lution naturally suggests itself. 



It does not appear that Mr. Swartji with 

 all his material has demonstrated actual 

 intiergradation between these tliree groups. 

 In fact he remarks that tliey approach but 

 remain distinct. Might it not be well 

 then to acknowledge the apparent logic 

 of the evidence and raise them to the 

 specific status to which they seem en- 

 titled? The evidence is as strong in tjiis 

 case as for the Oregon Junco, the North- 

 west Crow and others that may be men- 

 tioned, and is strengthened by the fact 

 that the Eastern Fox Sparrow is a par- 

 ticularly constant form, while the western 

 races are highly variable, suggesting a 

 fundamental distinction between them at 

 last. 



In spite of all the above criticism, 

 either stated or implied, Mr. Swarth is 

 to be congratulated on the presentation 

 jhe has made of his thesis. The faults, 

 so judged by tlie reviewer, are those of 

 prevailing practice, the virtues are all his 

 own. The necessity of studying even the 

 finest variations is not questioned, the 

 necessity of dignifying all of them with 

 formal names and thus exalting their im- 

 portance to a par with those of demons- 

 trable status is doubted. The question is 

 one of expediency rather than of fact. 

 However this may be, the thoroug^mess 

 which is evidenced throughout, the care 

 that has been taken to provide the widest 

 basis of material, the keenness with which 

 the author has analyzed his p^ienomena 

 and the clarity with which he has stated 

 them and his. conclusions makes this one 

 of the noteworthy specific revisions. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Bird Banding. 



The work of bird banding, from which 

 sf) much may he learned concerning t|ie 

 life hi.story of birds, has been taken over 

 from the Societies which were carrying 

 on this work by the U. S. Biological 

 Survey. All success is wished the Sur- 

 vey in this line of endeavour. 



The following article is printed at the 

 request of the Biological Survey, to ac- 



quaint the public of Canada wth this 

 work. 



Checking up the Migration op Birds. 

 "T|ie desire to learn what became of 

 birds, that flew South with the approach 

 of cold weather led Audubon — the great 

 American naturalist — to place silver 

 threads about the legs of a brood of 

 phoebes. The following spring he was 

 rewarded by having two of the birds re- 



