treated ; the principal changes in the group as a whole are the degredation 
of a few commonly recognized species to suhspecies, and apparently on 
wholly reasonable grounds. 
The fa1«ily Certhiidae includes the Nuthatches as well as the Tree- 
Creepers. XTo Certhia familiaris are referred unconditionally all the 
Tree-Creepe\ of Europe and North America, except mexicana, whiclrranks 
as a subspeciesV with a range extending northward along the Pacific coast to 
Oregon. The birds from Vancouver Island are said to be 'like those from 
Canada,' yet in the list of specimens cited under 'P. C ameritayia' is one 
from 'Vancouver Island.' While C. familiaris extends eastward in the 
Old World to Japan, three other species of Certhia are recognized as occur- 
ring in the Himalayan region. Sitta caroli?ic?isis aculeata is referred to 
-S". carolinensiis, with the remark, "the difference betw^n an eastern form 
(6". carolinensis) and a western variety (5". aculeatayX^ said to be that the 
western individuals have the bill slightly larger [^r], and that they have 
the greater wing coverts \_sic\ less black than th"e true carolinensis.'''' 
And yet the author cites examples from the Rox^ky Mountains, California, 
and Mexico! Sitta villosa Verr. et auct., op'Northern China, is made a 
subspecies of Sitta canade?isis! It is said ta be "scarcely specifically dis- 
tinct from the widely ranging North Am^d'ican 6". ca?iade7isis^'' although 
it lacks the 'black patch on the sides of the neck' present in canade?tsis, 
these parts being 'creamy whitish' in villosa. Is this case to be taken as 
a test of the author's idea of 'subspecies'.? And if Sitta carolinensis acu- 
leata, with its slender bill and indistinct black markings on the inner 
secondaries (not 'greater coverts,' )^hich in both forms are clear ashy blue) 
is not to be recognized as a 'rac^' what arfe we to infer is his standard for 
a 'race ' 
In general. Dr. Gadow inclines to the recognition of comprehensive 
groups, from families down,'4'ard. His reduction in genera and species 
from the hitherto current status is vexy marked. We believe the tendency 
to be a wholesome oney4nd that, in the main, his reductions are made 
with reason, but there are a few cases where we sh6uld hesitate strongly 
before accepting his/rulings, as regards both genera and species. His 
subspecies are obviolisly what in this country we should consider as dis- 
tinct though closely allied species, in most cases no intergradation being 
shown, while in some, from the nature (geographical) of the case, 
intergradation would be impossible. On the other hand, his 'races' 
correspond to -what we should rank as subspecies. In other instances, geo- 
graphical variation is pointed out, but the differentiated forms are not 
recognized ill nomenclature, although apparently well-marked, being, in 
fact, forms^^hich we should regard as subspecific and entitled to nomencla- 
tural recognition. Perhaps, however, he here errs not more on the side 
of con^lidation than we on this side of the water have been at times 
prone' to do in the direction of undue subdivision. 
In^ethod of execution, the present volume is strictly in accord with its 
predecessors, and is neither less valuable nor less welcome. — J. A. A. 
