228 
Recent Literature. 
[October 
List is the first paper on the birds of Kentucky, as such, which has yet ap- 
peared, and relating mainly to the birds of the immediate vicinity of Bards- 
town, and thus to a limited locality, is one of especial interest, although 
incomplete. Says the author, “The list represents hardly two-thirds of 
the birds that are doubtless to be found here, but it is thoroughly trust- 
worthy as far as it goes ; for no species has been admitted on any but the 
best of evidence : out of the one hundred and sixty-seven enumerated, the 
writer is himself responsible for all but eight of them.” It is based on 
observations covering “parts of five years.” The list is briefly annotated, 
and the species known to breed, and also those inferred to do so, are spec- 
ially distinguished. The list is well printed, and evidently carefully 
prepared. There is one feature, however, liable to mislead one not 
familiar with the usual range of a few of the spring and fall migrants, the 
language used, literally taken, implying that they are summer residents. 
For example, Dendroeca maculosa , D. ccerulescens, etc., are spoken of as 
migrants, arriving in May and departing in October, whereas, of course, 
they depart as well as arrive in May, and again in autumn, spending the 
summer far to the northward of the locality in consideration. Such slips, 
however, will not seriously impair the value of the list to those who^ are 
able to supply, from their general knowledge of the subject, the proper 
correction. — J. A. A. 
Nutting and Ridgway on Costa Rican Birds. — This report* on 
a collection of 97 species made at La Palma, on the Gulf of Nicoya, con- 
tains interesting field notes by the collector, Mr. Nutting, and various 
critical and technical notes by Mr. Ridgway, who is also responsible for 
the identification of the species and the nomenclature adopted. Tri- 
nomial designations are frequently employed. The new species and vari- 
eties are Icterus pectoralis espinachi (Nutting Ms.), and Myiarchus 
nuttingi Ridg. The generic name Antenor (preoccupied in conchology) 
is replaced by Parabuteo Ridg. Pages 387-389 contain a revision of the 
black-capped Polioptilce of Central and South America by Mr. Ridgway. 
In the introductory pages is a short account of the mammals of thed istrict 
investigated. — J. A. A. 
Migration of Birds. f — The migration of birds is of late attracting 
* On a Collection of Birds from the Hacienda “La Palma,” Gulf of Nicoya, Costa 
Rica, By C. C. Nutting. With Critical Notes by R. Ridgway. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 
1882, pp. 382-409. Sept. 12, 1882. 
1 1. Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1880. By 
John A. Harvie Brown, F. L. S., F. Z. S., John Cordeaux and Philip Kermode. 
London : W. S. Sonnenschein & Allen, 15, Paternoster Square. 1881. 8vo, pp. 120. 
2. Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown, Mr. John Cor- 
deaux, and Professor Newton, appointed at Swansea ‘for the purpose of obtaining 
(with the consent of the Master and Brethren of the Trinity House, and of the Com- 
missioners of Northern Lights) observations on the Migration of Birds at Lighthouses 
and Lightships, and of reporting on the same, at York, in 1881.’ London: Printed 
