42 
Recent Literature. 
rostris, Baird MSS.), from Southern Mexico, and y. verticalis, Ridgw., from 
Merida, Yucatan ; and a new variety of Loxigilla violacea (/3. bahamensis , 
Ridgw.), from the Bahamas. Anas aberti is described as a new species 
from Mazatlan, Mexico, and a description is given of the female of the 
recently-discovered A. wyvilliana , of which only the male was previously 
known. The two new species from Costa Rica, described in the third paper 
above cited, are ThryopMlus zeledoni , Lawr. MSS., and Pseudocolaptes 
lawrencii, Ridgw. 
Of the genus Tyrannus Mr. Ridgwav recognizes thirteen species,* only 
one of which, the wide-ranging and variable T. melancholicus, is sub- 
divided into races, of which three are recognized, namely, a. melancholicus , 
/3. couchi , y. satrapa. One species, T. luggeri, is described as new. In the 
second part of the same paper are described a new variety of Lichenops 
perspicillatus ( j3 . andinus , Ridgw.) from Chili ; a new variety of Dacnis 
pulcherrima (/3. aureinucha, Ridgw.) from Ecuador, and a new variety of 
Parus rufescens ( (3 . neglectus, Ridgw.) from the coast of California, which 
differs from typical rufescens in having -the sides .grayish, or only slightly 
tinged with rusty. 
These papers all notably evince Mr. Ridg way’s well-known acuteness of 
discrimination, and critical care in description and diagnosis, the distinc- 
tive features of the several forms being clearly and concisely designated. 
Full synonymy is also given in each case. — J. A. A. 
McChesney’s Notes on the Birds of Fort Sisseton, Dakota 
Territory. — Dr. McChesney’s “ Notes on the Birds of Fort Sisseton ” f 
form a valuable contribution to the ornithology of a little known portion 
of the Northwest, namely, the elevated plateau in Dakota known as the 
“ Coteau des Prairies.” This plateau, with an elevation of some four hun- 
dred feet above the level of the surrounding country, has a length of over 
one hundred miles, with a variable width of twenty to fifty. The many 
lakes that diversify its surface form the haunts of u thousands of Waders 
and Wild-fowl,” and it differs in its fauna in other respects from the sur- 
rounding lower country. The “ Notes ” are based on an experience of 
three years in the neighborhood of Fort Sisseton, and record 157 species, 
respecting most of which there are copious and interesting annotations. 
The list, as would be expected, embraces nearly all of the prairie birds of 
the Great Plains, but the locality is near the eastern limit of the range of 
* 1. Tyrannus viagnirostris, 2. T. rostratus, 3. T. dominicensis, 4. T. caro- 
linensis, 5. T. crassirostris, 6. T. melancholicus , 7. T. albigiclaris, 8. T. apolitcs , 
9. T. niveigularis, 10. T . verticalis, 11. T . vociferans, 12. T. luggeri (sp. nov. ), 
13. T. aurantio-atricristatus. 
+ Notes on the Birds of Fort Sisseton, Dakota Territory. By Chas. E. 
McChesney, Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. Bulletin U. S. Geol. and 
Geograph. Survey of the Territories, Yol. Y, pp. 71-104. Feb. 28, 1879. 
