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1884.] Recent Literature. 1017 
sected with a view to ascertaining their time of breeding. With 
all the condition of the sexual organs were similar, viz., at the 
very lowest stage of erotic development. The testes of the 
males were scarcely larger than dust shot, while the ovaries of 
the females presented the appearance of whitish sacs in which 
the separate ovules could not be clearly seen without the aid of a 
lass. I examined the females for signs of recent ovulation or 
incubation, but could find none. Furthermore, a male, taken 
June 18, showed every indication of being a young bird about 
eight or ten weeks from the nest. Its plumage differed apprecia- 
bly from that of some adults shot the same day, and its skull and 
es were soft, the skull having that flexible, skin-like character 
found only in young birds. 
“ These facts confirm a suspicion which I have entertained for 
a long time, viz., that Wilson’s petrel breeds in winter or early 
Spring in tropical or sub-tropical regions, and visits the coast of 
the Northeastern United States only in the interim between one 
breeding season and the next. In support of this theory are the 
following facts: (1) That although the bird literally swarms off 
our coast during June, July and August, no one has ever found it 
old, thus indicating a date of breeding when the species is not to 
be found in our waters. If the above conclusions prove correct, 
the case, as far as we now know, will be unique. But there are 
reasons for suspecting that the same thing obtains with other 
North American Procellaride, especially our two common spe- 
cies of Puffinus.” 
We are told that the common guillemot (Loma troile) still 
breeds at Bird rocks in amazing numbers, but that the number is 
_ Tapidly decreasing, owing to the introduction of a cannon which 
's fired every half hour during foggy weather. Mr. Brewster 
Writes: “ At eaclr discharge the frightened Murres fly from the 
rocks in clouds, nearly every sitting bird taking its egg into the 
air between its thighs and dropping it after flying a few yards. 
This was repeatedly observed during our visit, and more than 
Once a ie shower of eggs fell into the water around our 
ee ` H. M. 
SEEBoHM’s SIBERIA IN Asia.—Though it is over a year since 
appearance of this book, we desire to call attention to it as one 
of the best recent books of travel. The author is well known as 
a distinguished ornithologist. This work not only shows his 
TEO esay in East Siberia, with de- 
stgcion of th aa hen mnan of birdo, ce. By Haway Sessoms. Wi 
map and illustrations. John Murray; 12mo, pp. 298. 
