Recent Literature. 
[April 
”4 
Ridg way’s Review of the Genus Centurus.* — This revision is based 
on an examination of 227 specimens, representing 12 of the 14 forms con- 
sidered as sufficiently distinct for recognition, of which “not more than 
six, or less than one-half, can be said to be perfectly isolated, or to possess 
the requirements of perfectly distinct species.” “The so-called genus 
Centurus says Mr. Ridgway, “is scarcely more than an artificial division 
of Melanerpes , distinguished from the typical section of that genus chiefly, 
if not only, by a different system of coloration, which characterizes most 
of the species.” Even in this respect the intergradation is so complete 
that certain species may be referred with almost equal propriety to either 
group. C. terricolor is considered as doubtfully distinct from C. tricolor. 
To C. aurifrons are referred as races santacruzi Bon., dubius Cabot, and 
koffmanni Cabanis. Each form recognized is described in detail, and the 
whole subject is treated with Mr. Ridgway’s usual care and completeness. 
— J. A. A. 
Lawrence on New Species of Birds. f — In the first paper here men- 
tioned Mr. Lawrence describes a new subspecies of Loxigilla ( L . j>ort- 
oricensis var. grandis') from the Island of St. Christopher, W. I., col- 
lected by Mr. Ober. It differs from L. fiortoricensis in larger size and in 
some points of coloration. In the second paper he describes Chcetura 
gaumeri , from Yucatan, allied to C. vauxi. In the same paper he has 
notes on Pyranga roseigularis Cabot, previously known from the single 
type specimen, and describes the female. He also describes the female of 
his Centurus rubriventris , and maintains its distinctness from C. tricolor , 
to which it has been referred. The species described in the third paper 
are I^epto^ptila fulviventris and Formicarius pallidus, both from Yucatan. 
In the fourth paper is described Hemifirocne minor, from New Granada. 
— J. A. A. 
Freke on North American Birds crossing the Atlantic. J — This 
paper is based on the author’s “Comparative Catalogue of Birds found in 
Europe and North America,” published in 1880 (reviewed in this Bulletin, 
*A Review of the genus Centurus, Swainson. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U. S. 
Nat. Mus., 1881, pp. 93-119. June 2, 1881. 
fi. Description of a New Subspecies of Loxigilla from the Island of St. Christo- 
pher, West Indies. By George N. Lawrence. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, pp. 204, 
205. Nov. 18, 1881. 
2. Description of a New Species of Swift of the genus Chaetura, with Notes on two 
other little known Birds. By George N. Lawrence. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., Vol. 
II, No. 8, pp. 247, 248. March, 1882. 
3. Descriptions of New Species of Birds from Yucatan, of the Families Columbidae 
and Formicariidae. By George N. Lawrence. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., II, No. 9, 
pp. , 1882. 
4. Description of a New Species of Bird of the Family Cypselidae. By George N. 
Lawrence. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., II, No. 11, p.— , 1882. 
j; North American Birds crossing the Atlantic. By Percy Evans Freke. 8vo, pp. 11. 
From Scientific Proc. Roy. Dublin Society, Vol. Ill, 1881. 
