i68 
Recent Literature. 
[July 
well as others from the source above mentioned, is a superior piece of 
work, showing the author's progress under more favorable conditions of 
environment in Washington. The treatment is freer and clearer ; descrip- 
tion is not confined to the osteology, and comparisons are made outside 
the- family — especially with the Vulturine Faleonidce of the Old World. 
Attention is particularly called to the claw of “index” digit in this family. 
The numerous genera now in vogue, based upon external characters 
alone, seem to be well supported by osteological features, when, as in the 
present case, the whole skeleton is passed in review. On the whole it is 
a careful piece of descriptive work, the value of which is increased by 
adequate comparisons with related forms; and which would have been 
still enhanced had the author concisely formulated the net results of his 
investigation — giving his work that finish which, for example, confers 
such clarity upon Garrod’s polished productions. — E. C. 
Ridgway on New Species and Subspecies of Birds. — In numerous 
papers published in the “Proceedings” of the National Museum for 1881 
and 1882 Mr. Ridgway has described a considerable number of new 
species and races of birds and several new genera, chiefly from North and 
Middle America. They also contain notes on a few other hitherto little 
known species. The first paper of the series here enumerated * contains 
descriptions of Troglodytes (?) ockraceus and Acanthidops (gen. nov.) 
bairdi, both from Volcan de Irazu, Costa Rica; in the second paper are 
described Chasiempis sclateri and Cymochorea cryptoleucura , both from 
the Sandwich Islands. In the third, Asio portoricensis is described from 
Porto Rico, with an analysis of the distinctive characters of this species 
and A. accipitrinus and A. galapagoensis , together with the synonymy of 
these forms. In the fourth paper two new subspecies of North American 
Thrushes are distinguished, namely, Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola , from 
Colorado and neighboring Territories, and Hylocichla alicice bicknelli , 
from the Catskill Mountains of New York. In the fifth paper Motacilla 
*1. Notes on some Costa Rican Birds. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 
1881, pp. 333-337. March, 1882. 
2. Description of a new Flycatcher and a supposed new Petrel from the Sandwich 
Islands. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid., 1881, pp. 337, 338. March 29, 1882. 
3. Description of a new Owl from Porto Rico. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid., 1881, pp. 
366-371. April 6, 1882. 
4. Description of two new Thrushes from the United States. By Robert Ridgway. 
Ibid., 1881, pp. 374-379- April 6, 1882. 
5. On two Recent Additions to the North American Bird Fauna, by L. Belding. By 
Robert Ridgway. Ibid., 1881, pp. 414, 415. April 24, 1882. 
6. Description of several new Races of American Birds. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid., 
1882, pp. 9-15. June 5, 1882. 
7. On the genera Harporhynchus, Cabanis, and Methriopterus, Reichenbach, with a 
description of a new genus of Miminae. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid., 1882, pp. 43-46. 
June 5, 1882. 
8. Description of some new North American Birds. By Robert Ridgway. Ibid., 
1882, pp. 343-346. Sept, s, 1882. 
