846 Recently published Ornithological Works. 
works consulted. He found birds abundant_, but of the 
ninety-six species observed the majority were much the same as 
in the Sitkan district. Two new forms are described as peculiar 
to the group — Cyanocitta stelleri carlottcs and Dryobatts 
picoideus; while a thirds Nyctala acadica scotcea, is also found 
on the mainland. 
63. Osgood on the Birds of Cook Inlet, Alaska. 
[Natural History of the Cook Inlet Region, Alaska. By Wilfred H. 
Osgood. North American Fauna, No. 21, pp. 61-81, pis. vi., vii. 
Washington, 1901.] 
After leaving the Queen Charlotte Islands, Mr. Osgood 
and his assistant made a ^'biological reconnaissance^' into 
the district of Cook Inlet, just south of the great Alaskan 
promontory. It was too late (August and September) for the 
summer migrants, and the birds met with were permanent 
residents or '^fall stragglers."" Land-birds Were not nume- 
rous either as species or individuals. The list enumerates 
77 species, all known Alaskan forms. 
64. Pycraft on the Neognathine Palate. 
[Some Points in the Morphology of the Palate of the Neognathcs. 
By W. P. Pycraft, A.L.S., F.Z.S. Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 
xxviii. pp. 343-357, pis. 31, 32.] 
Mr. Pycraft here discusses the peculiarities and changes 
of the palate in the NeognathcB^ compared with those in the 
Pal(jeognath(B, the former group consisting of the '' Carinate " 
birds, with the exception of the Tinamous, and the latter of 
the Tinamous and the " Ratite '' birds. He prefers the palate 
to the sternum as a guide to classification. The differences 
he considers to be those of degree, and not of kind, while 
the Palseognathine type is undoubtedly the oldest, and 
Dromceus the most typical genus in this respect. Dromceus 
,is therefore taken as the standard, and is compared as re- 
gards the palate with Rhea and the Tinamous (which are 
much alike) ; a glance is then taken at the " Carinate " birds, 
of which many examples are considered. Summing up, 
the vomer and pterygoid are stated to be uninterruptedly 
