Recent Literature. 
II 4 
vicinity of Brandon. The author says: “A few more species doubtless 
occur, especially among the Waders and Swimmers, but as they have 
never been actually noted, they have been rigidly excluded.” An examin- 
ation of the List shows that, with perhaps one or two exceptions, he has 
succeeded in adhering to this principle, the result being a very reliable 
list as far as it goes. The further application of this rule doubtless 
accounts for the fact that many of the species are not stated to breed that 
yet no doubt do so. 
The chief interest of the List lies in its bearing upon the extent of the 
Alleghanian fauna in the Champlain valley. The breeding of such species as 
Dendrceca striata and Zonotrichia leucofihrys, the occurrence of Perisoreus 
canadensis and Picoides arcticus, and the absence of Ortyx virginiana 
and one or two other species, are almost the only exceptions to an other- 
wise strictly Alleghanian fauna. 
A number of species, especially among the migrants, would seem, from 
what the writer says, to be by no means numerous at this locality, and no 
doubt his statements are strictly in accordance with his experience. We 
have reason to believe, however, that a more thorough search might reveal 
greater numbers of some of these species. 
It is to be regretted that Mr. Knowlton’s List could' not have appeared 
elsewhere than in the columns of a newspaper, both for the sake of 
giving it a more permanent form, and of avoiding the typographical 
errors inevitable under such circumstances. It may be worth while here 
to mention that by a slip of the pen Mr. Knowlton has recorded Wilson’s 
Plover \Ochtkodromus ■wilsonius) instead of Wilson’s Snipe. — C. F. B. 
Krukenberg on the Coloring Matter of Feathers.* — This paper, 
the first of a series, seems to be the product of more careful work than 
previous publications on the subject. The author first states positively 
that the color may change after growth, the feather becoming lighter or 
darker as the case may be, but postpones deciding whether the change is 
the result of external or internal causes. Judging from the effects of 
stimulants upon Canaries with fully grown feathers, I have no doubt that 
internal changes play an important part. At least, almost white Canaries 
will become very yellow, gray sometimes appearing, if properly fed. 
Turacin, a red or purple-violet pigment, found in the feathers of the 
Musophagidce is first considered. Attention was first called to this pig- 
merit by Verreaux, who found that the purple-violet in the wing feathers 
of Corythaix albicristatus was destroyed by wetting, but returned on 
drying. Later it was observed that the water in which these birds bathed 
became colored dark red. Facts worthy of consideration by all sys- 
tematic ornithologists. Turacin is soluble in weak alkalies, insoluble in 
acids, and slightly soluble in water, especially if warm. It may be precip- 
itated as an amorphous red powder by the action of acids. In solution the 
* Dr. C. Fr. W. Krukenberg. Die Farbstoffe der Federn, in Dessen Vergleichend- 
physiologische Studien. I Reihe, V Abth., 1881, s. 72-92. Plate III. 
