638 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



appear till at least four days later. The down-feathers, 

 ■which precede tlie rectrices, were found to be remarkably 

 long and stiff, and are borne on the tip of the latter for 

 a considerable period. 



The third paper relates a curious experiment made by 

 Mr. Beebe on the Scarlet Tanager [Piranga erythromelas) 

 and the Bobolink [Dolichonyx oryzivorus); both of these birds 

 have a brilliant summer dress, which is exchanged in autumn 

 for a duller and more sombre garb resembling that of the 

 female. 



Taking some of these birds in their full summer dress 

 and confining them in rather small cages, Mr. Beebe 

 gradually cut off the supply of light and increased the 

 amount of food. By this means the birds became very fat, 

 and, although they appeared to be in perfect condition in 

 every respect, no signs of moulting took place, and the birds 

 retained their bright breeding plumage through the whole 

 winter. In the early spring the Tanagers and Bobolinks 

 were brought back under normal conditions and into 

 seasonal activities, with the result that a moult took place, 

 and the succeeding plumage was not the winter one but a 

 new nuptial plumage, so that in this case the winter 

 plumage was entirely suppressed. 



Experiments such as these open out large fields of specu- 

 lation, and will no doubt in time help to solve some of the 

 riddles of variation and mutation. 



Chapman on new Birds from Ecuador. 



[Descriptions of new Birds from Ecuador. By Frank M. Chapman. 

 Bull. Amer. Mu8. Nat. Hist. vol. xxxiii. 1914, pp. 317-322.] 



The American Museum is now extending its ornithological 

 survey of South America into Ecuador, where for some 

 time past Mr. William B. Richardson has been collecting in 

 certain selected localities. Pending a detailed report on the 

 very large collections sent to New York, Mr. Chapman has 

 now published descriptions of new species and subspecies 

 of the following genera : — Leptoptila, Speotyto, Pyrrhura, 

 Tityra, and Pitylus. 



