2 28 Recefit Literature. [October 



List is the first paper on the birds of Kentucky, as such, which has yet ap- 

 peared, and relating mainly to the birds of the immediate vicinitj' of Bards- 

 town, and thus to a limited locality, is one of especial interest, although 

 incomplete. Says the author, "The list represents hardly two-thirds of 

 the birds that are doubtless to be found here, but it is thoroughly trust- 

 worthy as far as it goes ; for no species has been admitted on any but the 

 best of evidence : out of the one hundred and sixty-seven enumerated, the 

 writer is himself responsible for all but eight of them." It is based on 

 observations covering "parts of five years." The list is briefly annotated, 

 and the species known to breed, and also those inferred to do so, are spec- 

 ially distinguished. The list is well printed, and evidently carefully 

 prepared. There is one feature, however, liable to mislead one not 

 familiar with the usual range of a few of the spring and fall migrants, the 

 language used, literally taken, implying that they are summer residents. 

 For example, Detidrceca maculosa . D. coerulescens, etc., are spoken of as 

 migrants, arriving in May and departing in October, whereas, of coui-se, 

 they depart as well as arrive in May, and again in autumn, spending the 

 summer far to the northward of the locality in consideration. Such slips, 

 however, will not seriously impair the value of the list to those who are 

 able to supply, from their general knowledge of the subject, the proper 

 correction. — -J. A. A. 



Nutting and Ridgway on Costa Rican Birds. — This report* on 

 a collection of 97 species made at La Palma, on the Gulf of Nicoya, con- 

 tains interesting field notes by the collector, Mr. Nutting, and various 

 critical and technical notes by Mr. Ridgway, who is also responsible for 

 the identification of the species and the nomenclature adopted. Tri- 

 nomial designations are frequently employed. The new species and vari- 

 eties are Icterlis fectoralis esfitiachi (Nutting Ms.), and Alyiarchus 

 nuttingi Ridg. The generic name Antenor (preoccupied in conchology) 

 is replaced by Parabuteo Ridg. Pages 387-389 contain a revision of the 

 black-capped Polioptilce of Central and South America by Mr. Ridgway. 

 In the introductory pages is a short account of the mammals of thed istrict 

 investigated. — J. A. A. 



Migration of Birds.! — The migration of birds is of late attracting 



* On a Collection of Birds from the Hacienda "La Palma," Gulf of Nicoya, Costa 

 Rica, By C. C. Nutting. With Critical Notes by R. Ridgway. Proc. U.S, Nat. Mus., 

 1882, pp. 382-409. Sept. 12, 1882. 



1 1. Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1880. By 

 John A. Harvie Brown, F. L. S., F. Z. S., John Cordeaux and Philip Kermode. 

 London : W. S. Sonnenschein & Allen, 15, Paternoster Square. 1881. 8vo, pp. 120. 



2. Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown, Mr. John Cor- 

 deaux, and Professor Newton, appointed at Swansea ' for the purpose of obtaining 

 (with the consent of the Master and Brethren of the Trinity House, and of the Com- 

 missioners of Northern Lights) observations on the Migration of Birds at Lighthouses 

 and Lightships, and of reporting on the same, at York, in 1881.' London : Printed 



