80 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XIII 
formes” (Univ. Calif. Piibl. Zool. VI, Decem- 
ber 1910, pp. 28,5-312). — Mr. Henry Chester 
Tracy under the above title adds an unusually 
important contribution to both fact and theory 
relative to the general subject of adaptive col- 
oration. The province particularly dealt with 
is that of so-called directive markings, which 
term has been employed in explaining a type 
of coloration where white or light patches are 
conspicuously contrasted with black or dark 
areas. This theor}', of the directive function 
of contrasted markings, has recently been xm- 
qualifiedly condemned by A. H. Thayer who 
has been able to see in them only an oblitera- 
tive, or concealing effect. Tracy defenils the 
directive theory most convincingly, both xvith 
argxxment and an array of fact, the latter xle- 
rived from field observation of passerine birds. 
The author under review brings out incontro- 
vertibly the remarkable correlation existing 
between the possession of revealhij^ (a pre- 
ferred substitute for the word directive) marks, 
the flocking habits, and use of location notes, 
in many birds which forage in the open. The 
significance of this correlation is self-evident. 
A fundamental point emphasizeil by Tracy 
is the usual association of motion with the opti- 
mum display of contrasted markings. Perfect 
quiet on the part of a bird possessing such a 
pattern might in truth result in obliteration 
against a checkered background; but quick 
movement, as when the birxl takes flight, brings 
the same pattern to the instant attention of the 
observer. In other words the function of con- 
cealing might be subserved by the coloration 
of a bird at rest, when the same coloration 
would render the bird conspicuous in motion. 
Tracy’s attitude throughout is modest ami 
conservative. Although he clearly holds defi- 
nite views, he presents these always tenta- 
tively, giving the reader a fair chance to weigh 
the evidence pro and con. The paper in hand 
is well worth careful study by every observer 
of birds. Data contributory to the solution of 
problems of this nature are probabl}^ to be de- 
rived chiefly from observation of the living 
animal under natural conditions. The devotee 
of field ornithology will find here one way in 
which part of his horde of facts can be of use 
in a large field of philosophic impiiry . — ]. (1. 
Birds and Mammads of Northwestern 
Colorado, by A. II. Felger. [The University 
of Colorado Studies, vol. vii, no. 2, January, 
1910, pp. 132-1-16.] 
The report deals mainly with the species 
seen on an expedition into northwestern Col- 
orado, August 1 to September 4, 1909, but in- 
cludes as well ‘‘those reported on good author- 
ity from the region,” the birds amounting 
altogether to 133 species. The annotations re- 
late principally to the manner and place of oc- 
currence of the species observed. Considerexl 
a-s the result of observations made dxiring a 
single month the list is a long one; as a list of 
the birds occurring in that part of Colorado it 
is evixlently incomplete, judging from state- 
ments in the introdxiction. It is hard to tell in 
which category the author wished it to fall. 
To the reviewer the practice of including in 
such publications species which were not en- 
countered but which the author believes shoukl 
occur there seems objectionable. To take a 
particular instance in the present paper, under 
Otocoris alpestris leucolaema the only state- 
ment made is that ‘‘not a single bird of this 
common species was seen on the whole trip.” 
If none were seen why is it considered a com- 
mon species, or why is it entered at all ? 
The paper will be of undoxibted value to any 
one studying the distribution of birds in Col- 
orado, but such a student will be forced to 
ignore a number of the records. — H. S. S. 
The Terrestrial | Mammals and Birds | 
OF Northeast Greenl.and | Biological Ob- 
servations I by I A. T. V. M.anniche (=Danish 
Expedition to Northeast Greenland, 1906-1908, 
vol. V, no. 1; 1910; pp. 1-200, figs. 1-20, pis. 
I-VII). 
For two years the author of the paper uiuler 
notice was stationed on the northeast coast of 
Greenland at lat. 76° 46'. The immediate 
vicinity of his permanent quarters fortunately 
proved to be surprisingly prolific of animal 
life, more so than any other parts of the axlja- 
cent region which were visited at different 
seasons by other members of the expedition. 
Dr. Manniche ilevotexl his attention to a biolo- 
gical study of the neighborhood, and the pres- 
ent report on the eight species of mammals and 
thirty-eight of birds is proof of close observa- 
tion and discriminating judgment. 
Confining our attention to the portion of the 
work relating to birds, some 100 pages, we find 
exceedingly interesting accounts given of the 
breeding habits of such far northern visitors as 
the Knot, Sanderling and Ivory Gull. Eggs of 
the latter two were found. Although no eggs 
of the Knot were actually secured, close obser- 
vation of the birds throughout the breeding 
season xvas possible. The account of the ptar- 
migan shows strikingly close agreement with 
the facts recorded of the Rock Ptarmigan of 
Alaska. The author shows a clear conception 
of the molt-processes, until not so very long 
ago obscurely umlerstood. The courting and 
nidification of the Red Phalarope is most en- 
tertainingly narrated. Those interested in the 
problem of sexual coloration will fiml here 
some facts of significant bearing. 
The paper in hand is altogether of a biologi- 
cal and faunistic nature. Although brief des- 
criptive notes on the specimens secured are 
presented, there is no evidence of close syste- 
matic enquiry. The nomenclature is scarcely 
recognizable from the standpoint of the A. O. 
U. Check-List, and no attention is given to 
subspecific distinctions. Thus the ptarmigan 
is “Lagopus rnutus”, with no reference to L. 
rupestris reinhardi. However, this cannot be 
emphasized as a fault, when the whole paper is 
avowedly concerned only with ecology and 
biography. — ^J. G. 
