106 Recent Literature. [ February, 
ralist to the American Transit of Venus Expedition in 1874-75. The 
results are of much interest, as the climatic features of the island are pecul- 
iar, while there are no land birds or mammals, strictly speaking, indige- 
nous to it, and but a single shore-bird (Chionts minor), though the island 
is about ninety miles long and fifty broad, with snow-covered mountains, 
the highest of which (Mount Ross) rises to an elevation of about 5000 
feet. The birds observed were pelagic forms, such as gulls, albatross, 
penguins, ete. ‘The species have been determined by Dr. Coues, whose 
synonymical and other notes give additional value to the essay. 
Tue ZobLoaicat Recorv.1 — Though it is nearly time for the ap- 
pearance of the volume for 1874, it is perhaps not entirely too late for us 
to call the attention of our readers to the value of these yearly indexes to 
the literature of systematic zodlogy. They deserve an extended circu- 
lation in this country, where access to zodlogical works is limited, and 
students away from large libraries are obliged to use such a record. 
Possessing such a manual of recent zoological literature, and ascertaining 
what has been published in his special department, the isolated student 
can borrow from central libraries works of which he otherwise would be 
totally ignorant. 
We notice that the last four volumes are much thinner than the early 
ones. Is this a sign of the zodlogical millenium when all the new species 
and genera shall have been described, and students will be forced to study 
the anatomy, physiology, and development of animals ? 
ScuppeEr’s Fossi BUTTERFLIES.? — This beautifully printed and 
illustrated memoir is the result of a critical and extensive examination 
of the specimens of fossil butterflies existing in European museums, ° 
none having yet occurred in this country. After describing the fos- 
sils with minuteness, and elaborately comparing them with related forms 
now living, the author discusses the comparative age of fossil butterflies, 
the probable food-plants of tertiary caterpillars, and the present distri- 
bution of butterflies most nearly allied to the fossil species, besides notic- 
ing such insects as have been erroneously referred in recent times to 
butterflies. 
It appears that nine well-authenticated species of butterflies are now 
known, all from the European Eocene and Miocene tertiary formations, 
and that they represent all the families of butterflies except the Rurales, 
represented by the Lycene. Of the allies of the nine fossils forms, four 
now live in the East Indies, three in America, on the confines of the 
tropical and north temperate zones, one in the north temperate zone of 
Europe, Asia, and America, and one on the shores of the Mediterranean. 
The Zoölogical Record for 1872. Edited by Arren Newton. 8vo, pp. 495- 
big, for 1873. Edited by E. C. Rye. London : John Van Voorst. 1875. 8v0. 
_* Fossil Butterflies. By Samvet H. Scupper. Memoirs of the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science. I. Salem, Mass. 1875. 4to, with 3 steel 
plates; pp. 99. $1.00. For sale by the Naturalist’s Agency, Salem, Mass. 
’ 
