174 
Recent Literature. 
of Cabot’s type with Texan specimens of A. ccrviniventris shows that the 
species are distinct. Comparative diagnoses are given of the two species, 
with some remarks respecting their distribution. — J. A. A. 
Harvie-Brown’s Second Report on Scottish Ornithology*. — The 
first third of the report gives a “Journal of the Winter of 1879-80,” and is 
mainly a record of the weather, with references passim to the effect of 
meterological conditions upon the movements of various species of birds, 
especially in relation to the vernal migration. The remainder of the 
report gives observations on some 65 to 70 species, mainly in relation to 
their abundance at particular localities during the period named as com- 
pared with former years. The importance of such a record, extended 
through a series of years, especially in relation to the increase and decrease 
of particular species, and to the causes to which such fluctuations are due, 
is sufficiently obvious. The Redpolls ( Linota l maria) are reported to 
have warmly lined their nests with feathers in the unusually backward 
cold spring of 1879. while at the same locality in the more favorable spring 
of 1880 they almost wholly neglected this precaution. The report abounds 
with especially suggestive observations in relation to little understood 
points in bird-life, and leads one to hope that not only these reports will 
be continued, but that we shall have others equally detailed for other 
districts, including, indeed, large portions of our own .country. — J. A. A. 
Godman and Salvin’s “Biologia Centrali-Americana.” — Part I of the 
“Zoology” of this important workf appeared in September, 1879, ant * nine 
other parts have followed at short intervals, Part X, the last issued, bearing 
date April, 1881. As the title indicates, the work treats of the fauna and 
flora of Mexico and Central America, or of the region extending southward 
from the United States and Mexican boundary to the Isthmus of Darien. 
It is issued in parts, each averaging about 96 quarto pages of text and 6 
hand-colored lithographic plates. The zoological portion is estimated to 
form, when completed, about 12 volumes of 500 pages each. Each sub- 
ject is paged separately, and will thus be complete in itself. The zoologi- 
cal portion may be had separately, but the different subjects in zoology 
will not be sold apart from the others. The editors of the work have been 
collecting material for this great enterprise during the past twenty-two 
* Second Report on Scottish Ornithology — October 1st, 1879, to September 30th, 
1880. Compiled by Mr. John A. Harvie-Brown, F. R. S. E. &c. Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. 
of Glasgow, Vol. IV, Part II, April 1880, pp. 291-326. (For notice of Report for 1878- 
79 see this Bulletin, Vol. V, p. 233.) 
t Biologia Centrali-Americana; or, Contributions to the knowledge of the Fauna 
and Flora of Mexico and Central America. Edited by F. Ducane Godman and 
Osbert Salvin. Zoology, Parts I-X. Aves, by O. Salvin and F. D. Godman, pp. 
1-152, pll. i-x. 4to. London : Published for the Editors by R. H, Porter, 10 Chandos 
^treet, Cavendish Square, W., and Dulau & Co., Soho Square. September, 1879^ 
April, 1881. 
