I I J. Recent Literature. [April 



Ridgway's Review of the Genus Centurus.* — This revision is based 

 on an examination of 227 specimens, representing 12 of the 14 forms con- 

 sidered as sufficiently distinct for recognition, of which "not more than 

 six, or less than one-half, can be said to be perfectly isolated, or to possess 

 the requirements of perfectly distinct species." "The so-called genus 

 Centurus," says Mr. Ridgway, "is scarcely more than an artificial division 

 oi Melanerpes, distinguished from the typical section of that genus chiefly, 

 if not only, by a different system of coloration, which chai-acterizes most 

 of the species." Even in this respect the intergradation is so complete 

 that certain species may be referred with almost equal propriety to either 

 grotip. C. terricolor is considered as doubtfully distinct from C. tricolor. 

 To C. aurifrons are referred as races santacruzi Bon., dubius Cabot, and 

 hoffmanni Cabanis. Each form recognized is described in detail, and the 

 whole subject is treated with Mr. Ridgway's usual care and completeness. 

 -J. A. A. 



Lawrence on New Species of Birds. f — In the first paper here men- 

 tioned Mr. Lawrence describes a new subspecies of Loxigilla {^L. fort- 

 oricensis var. grandis) from the Island of St. Christopher, W. I., col- 

 lected by Mr. Ober. It differs from L. fortoricensis in larger size and in 

 some points of coloration. In the second paper he describes Chcetura 

 gatimeri, from Yucatan, allied to C. vauxi. In the same paper he has 

 notes on Pyranga roseigiilaris Cabot, previously known from the single 

 type specimen, and describes the female. He also describes the female of 

 his Centurus rubriventris, and maintains its distinctness from C tricolor, 

 to which it has been referred. The species described in the third paper 

 axQ Leptoptila fulviventris and Formicariits pallidus, both from Yucatan. 

 In the fourth paper is described Hemiprocne minor, from New Granada. 

 -J. A. A. 



Freke ON North American Birds crossing the Atlantic. J — ^This 

 paper is based on the author's "Comparative Catalogue of Birds found in 

 Europe and North America," published in 1880 (reviewed in this Bulletin, 



*A Review of the genus Centurus, Swainson. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., 1881, pp. 93-119. June 2, 1881. 



ti. Description of a New Subspecies of Loxigilla from the Island of St. Christo- 

 pher, West Indies. By George N. Lawrence. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, pp. 204, 

 205. Nov. 18, 1881. 



2. Description of a New Species of Swift of the genus Chastura, with Notes on two 

 other little known Birds. By George N. Lawrence. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., Vol. 

 II, No. 8, pp. 247, 248. March, 1882. 



3. Descriptions of New Species of Birds from Yucatan, of the Families Columbidse 

 and Formicariidse. By George N. Lawrence. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., II, No. 9, 

 pp. , 1882. 



4. Description of a New Species of Bird of the Family Cypselidas. By George N. 

 Lawrence. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., II, No. 11, p.—, 1882. 



J North American Birds crossing the Atlantic. By Percy Evans Freke. 8vo, pp. 11. 

 From Scientific Proc. Roy. Dublin Society, Vol. Ill, 1881. 



