Recent Literature. 
79 
Australian. In respect to North American species, the Raven ( Corvus 
corax ) is not separated even varietally from the Raven of the Old World, 
Mr. Sharpe stating that the characters given by authors for their separation 
do not hold good in his series of specimens. In respect to changes of 
nomenclature among North American species, it may be noted that the old 
genus Corvus is here much subdivided, so that our Fish-Crow stands as 
Colceus ossifragus, and the Common Crow as Corone americanus ; Nucifraga 
(Brisson, 1760) appears in place of Picicorvus for the Clarke’s Crow, and 
Cyanurus is regarded as a synonyme of Cyanocorax , our Blue- Jay (C. cris- 
tatus ) being referred to the genus Cyanocitta. Nearly all of the numerous 
forms of Western Jays (genera Perisoreus, Cyanocitta , and Aphelocoma), 
recognized as varieties by American ornithologists, are raised by Mr. 
Sharpe to the rank of species, two of which ( Perisoreus capitalis and P. 
obscurus ) are figured. In this volume, in fact, very few “ subspecies ” are 
recognized. 
We are sorry to see in Mr. Sharpe’s third volume several instances of 
the use of the same name in a generic and specific sense for the same 
species, with such ridiculous results as “ Pica pica,” “ Pyrrhocorax pyrrho- 
corax,” etc., which is not only opposed to good taste, to say the least, but 
to a very generally accepted rule of nomenclature. Also that the value of 
his very full bibliographical references is impaired by his not adding the 
date of publication. This was very uniformly done in the first volume, 
and to some extent in the second, and we sincerely hope he will see fit to 
resume the practice in his later volumes. — J. A. A. 
Rowley’s “ The Pied Duck.” — Mr. G. D. Rowley’s monographic 
essay on the Labrador or Pied Duck ( Somateria labradorid) * is a timely and 
exhaustive contribution to the history of a species believed to be rapidly 
approaching extinction. Nearly all that relates to its literary history is 
here brought together, the paper consisting largely of excerpts gathered 
from the writings of all authors who have referred to the species. While 
apparently of rather frequent occurrence along our Atlantic coast, as far 
south at least as Long Island, New Jersey, and Delaware, fifty to thirty 
years ago, it has of late been rarely observed and few specimens appear to 
have been taken since 1868. Its last-recorded capture, as appears from a 
letter from Mr. George N. Lawrence, published' in Mr. Rowley’s paper, 
seems to have occurred “ in the fall of 1874,” when a specimen was ob- 
tained by Mr. J. Wallace, from Long Island, from which source the same 
gentleman had obtained four or five others during the previous five years. 
All were females or immature males, and only one adult male is known to 
have been taken in the last twenty years. 
* Somateria labradoria (J. F. Gmelin). The Pied Duck. By G. D. Rowley, 
M. A., F. L. S., F. Z. S., etc., etc. Ornithological Miscellany, Yol. II, Part 
YI, pp. 205-223, with 5 plates, 1877. London, Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, W.; 
Triibner & Co., Ludgate Hill, E. C.; R. H. Porter, 6 Tenterden St., Hanover 
Square, W. 
