Recent Literature. 
185 
hand and Messrs. Bidgway and Elliot on the other, the fourteen genera 
of Ibises recognized by Elliot forming only two in Beichenow’s system, 
while the contrast is perhaps greater between the work of the latter and 
Mr. Bidg way’s, so far as they cover common ground. 
While differing from Dr. Beichenow respecting important principles of 
nomenclature, and on various points of classification, we can but accord to 
his paper a high importance, as it evinces laborious and careful research, and 
embraces a vast amount of information, succinctly and lucidly presented, 
that will be of great service to future workers in the same field. — J. A. A. 
Brewer’s Supplement to his Catalogue of New England Birds. 
— This paper* adds twenty-one species to the “ Catalogue of the Birds of 
New England,” published by this author in 1875, and contains notes on 
twentv-seven other species of rare occurrence in New England. The 
V • ** , 
record of rare cajitures and of additions to the New England avian fauna 
is faithfully brought down to date, this brochure forming a most valuable 
appendix to his former “ Catalogue.” The wdiole number of “ recognized 
forms” now admitted by him as having been taken in New England is 
three hundred and fifty-six. “To show,” says our author, “ the zeal and 
industry with which the knowledge of our fauna has been studied and ex- 
tended, it needs only to be mentioned that the list now contains the 
names of not less than forty species not positively known to occur in New 
England prior to 1874, although the occasional appearance of some five or 
six had been looked for by several prophetic observers. This does not in- 
clude seven species whose names had been borne on previous lists, but 
without any recorded evidence of their right to be there. It moreover in- 
cludes two or three forms that some do not recognize as of specific value, 
and one whose very existence as a species appears to call for more evi- 
dence before its reality can be fully admitted.” — J. A. A. 
Saunders on the Larina. — The writer is indebted to the author 
for the early sheets of this very interesting, thorough, and discriminating 
review t of the family of Gulls, and although there is much in this paper 
throwing a welcome and greatly needed light upon several other than 
North American species, only the latter will be here considered. The 
whole number of species recognized in this paper is forty-nine, of which 
number twenty may be counted as North American, in which are included 
two, Larus canus and L. affinis , of purely accidental occurrence. It is not 
a little remarkable that Larus affinis, now recognized as a well-marked 
species, should have been first described by Professor Beinhardt from an 
individual that had straggled to Greenland. The investigations of See- 
* Notes on certain Species of New England Birds, with Additions to his 
Catalogue of the Birds of New England. By T. M. Brewer. Proc. Boston Soc. 
Nat. Hist., Vol. XIX, pp. 301 -309, April, 1878. 
t From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London [pp. 155-212], 
February 5, 1878. 
VOL. III. 
13 
