Recent Literature. 
T 77 
The annotations in this section are often. full and always interesting. 
The author writes clearly and simply and his style is characterized by a 
modest frankness that is very attractive. We fear, however, that some 
of his views respecting the distribution of races are hardly orthodox. 
Thus he thinks that “two races of Loon spend the summer in New Bruns- 
wick, and breed here. They have plumage of similar colors and mark- 
ings, but one is smaller than the other, being some six inches less in length. 
The larger bird is common on the lakes and rivers in all sections of the 
Province, seldom seeking the salt water until the rivers freeze over, while 
the smaller is rarely found away from the sea shore” ; and again that a 
light, form of the Ruffed Grouse “resembling the descriptions given of 
ii imbelloides” occurs with typical umbellus and that it is “ not improbable 
that both the Brown and Gray varieties are represented here, with 
numerous hybrids”; a condition of affairs which, if true, is certainly 
deplorable. 
“Section B” is almost wholly compiled, the authorities mainly drawn 
on being Boardman, Herrick, and Dr. A. Leith Adams. Several of the 
records left by the 1 after writer are, in the light of our present knowledge, 
of very doubtful value. 
Mr. Chamberlain’s work, so far as it has gone, has evidently been done 
carefully and well, a fact which makes it the more to be regretted that the 
publication of his report could not have been longer delayed, for in many 
respects it lacks the completeness that is desirable in a paper of its kind. 
Any adequate exploration of a region so extensive as that embraced within 
the limits of New Brunswick cannot be accomplished in one or two 
seasons only. It is rather the task of a lifetime. But we must bear in 
mind that the present “Catalogue” is offered simply as a “starting point,” 
to be “supplemented by additions and revisions as opportunity for further 
investigation occurs” ; and considered from this standpoint it is in every 
way a highly creditable production. That its author is qualified to 
carry out an undertaking which he has so satisfactorily begun can be a 
matter admitting of no doubt, and we shall look for many interesting de- 
velopments in the field which he has chosen. — W. B. 
Krukenberg on the Coloring Matter of Feathers. Second 
Part.* — Turacoverdin, a green pigment which occurs in the green 
feathers of the Musophagidce is first considered. This pigment is soluble 
in alkalies, such as soda and the like, but is insoluble in acids, chloroform, 
ether and the alcohols. Concentrated sulphuric acid added to the pigment 
in solution turns it violet red. Turacoverdin in solution emits a weak 
red fluorescent light, and when examined by the spectroscope shows an 
absorption band near D. It contains a considerable quantity of iron, 
but little copper or manganese, and probably, like Turacin, lacks sulphur 
and nitrogen. A point of considerable interest is its identity with a green 
* Dr. C. Fr. Krukenberg. Die Farbstoffe der Federn. 2 Mitt'heilung, in Dessen 
Verg.-phys. Stud., 2 R., I. Abth., 1882, SS 151-171. 
