1894.] Recent Literature. 333 
previous writers, even though I disapprove of it.” (p. 21). We can- 
not agree with Mr. Chapman in this theory, and see no real valid rea- 
son why we should perpetuate the errors of our predecessors in the 
science of ornithology. 
The classification of the birds of Trinidad adopted by Mr. Chapman 
is the only faulty feature of this otherwise careful work by a Natural- 
ist who has thus far in his career earned a reputation for great pains- 
taking. 
` He divides the Trinidad avifauna simply into two primary ORDERS 
—the PASSERES and the MACROCHIRES. 
In the first named the following families are represented, viz: the 
Turdide ; the Troglodytide [Sic.]; the Mniotiltide ; the Cærebidæ ; the 
Vireonide ; the Hirundinide; the Tanagride; the Fringillide; the 
Icteride ; the Tyrannide; the Pipride; the Cotingide ; the Dendro- 
colaptide ; and the Formicariide. 
This may answer for the Passeres, but his order Macrochires is very 
carelessly arranged. In it he retains the “ Humming-birds, Swifts, 
Goat-suckers, etc.,” and leads off with the family Trochilidw, between 
which and the Swifts there appears no family dividing line; nor is 
there between the Swifts and the Goat-suckers. The “etc.” given 
above seems to include also without dividing family lines, W 00d-peck- 
ers, Kingfishers, Trogons, Jacamars, Cuckoos, Toucans, Parrots, Owls, 
Vultures, Hawks and Pigeons, Jacamas, and indeed all the rest of the 
avifauna of the Island, including all the water-birds. At the close of 
the “list” some of the birds are enumerated entirely in their wrong 
places in the system. I refer to the point where Crypturus pileatus 
follows Colymbus dominicus. 
The writer of this review has long since failed to recognize the 
naturalness of the so-called order “ Macrochires,” but here certainly is 
an application of it that is, at the best, quite unique in ornithological 
literature—R. W. SHUFELDT. 
Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. VI, 
embraces 331 pages, of which the following is the list of contents ;— 
On the Capture of Comets by Planets, especially their Capture by 
Jupiter, by H. A. Newton.—Atmospheric Electricity, by Robert Cat- 
lin, U. S. A—On Certain New Methods and Results in Optics, by C. 
8. Hastings —The Proteids or Abuminoids of the Oat Kernel, by T. B. 
_ Osborne.—A Comparison of Antipodal Faunas, by Theodore Gill.— 
Families and Sub-Families of Fishes, by Theodore Gill—Human 
*Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. VI. Washington, 1893. 
