General Notes. 
37 
“Life-Histories,” * carrying the subject from the Crows ( Corrida, ) to the 
Waders, these and the Swimming Birds being reserved for treatment in a 
third volume. This volume differs little in general character from the first. 
It abounds in original observations, combined with much that is gleaned 
from other authors. The nature of the food of the different species 
has received at Mr. Gentry’s hands very careful attention, his pages 
fairly bristling with the technical names of the various species of insects 
and plants, the fragments of which he has detected in examining the 
contents of their stomachs. The freer use of vernacular names, in the 
case of the more common and well-known species, would doubtless have 
added interest to his extensive “ bills of fare ” for the non-scientific reader. 
The occasional adoption of such familiar terms as red-legged locust or 
“ grasshopper,” black cricket, sulphur butterfly, cankerworm, pine weevil, 
etc., in place of the ever-recurring Caloptenus femur-rubrum, Acheta nigra, 
Colias philodice, Anisopteryx vernata and A. pometaria, Hylobius pales, etc., 
or chestnut, oak, alder, birch, woodbine-honeysuckle, and strawberry, to 
take mild examples, instead of Castanea, Quercus, Alnus, Betula, Lonicera 
periclymenum, Fragaria virginiana, etc., would certainly have savored less 
of pedantry, and been far more intelligible to ordinary readers. Mr. 
Gentry is evidently a friend and admirer of the feathered tribes, and often 
describes their habits most minutely, especially in relation to their nidifi- 
cation. Despite some faults of execution, the work before us contributes 
much of value respecting the habits of our birds, and records many inter- 
esting points in their history not given by previous writers. — J. A. A. 
Central Utrteo'. 
Three Additions to the Avifauna of North America. — Mr. Lu- 
cien M. Turner, United States Signal Officer, stationed for the past three 
years at St. Michael’s, Norton Sound, Alaska, collected during his resi- 
dence at that post a considerable series of birds, among which are the 
following species not previously recorded from this continent — 
1. Parus cinctus, Bodd. (= sibiricus, Gmel. et auct.). — A species very 
closely resembling P. hudsonicus, but differing in having the whole side of 
the neck pure white instead of ashy, conspicuous white edging to remiges 
and rectrices, and other minor features. Found in company with P. hud- 
sonicus, and not rare, though less common than the latter. Several speci- 
mens obtained at St. Michael’s, March 15, 1875. 
2. Syrnium lapponicum, Betz. — A specimen obtained at the Yukon 
delta, April 15, 1876. This form resembles S. cinereum, which was also 
obtained in the same locality, but is very much paler colored. 
* Life-Histories of the Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania. By Thomas G. Gen- 
try. Yol. II, 8vo, pp. 336. The Naturalist’s Agency, Salem, Mass. 1877. 
