Page:Condor6(3).djvu/29

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82 THE CONDOR VoL. VI their subspecies have a wide range of variation in extent, though usually preserving a character- istic outline, although at times this also disappears. Thus we have the dusky area practically gone on the inner web of the outer tail feather of some of the females of ci?terascens, producing a feather exactly as in ?utlin?i." Nineteen species and subspecies are recognized of which three, iV. la,?,re?tcei ban?si, fIl. I. querulus, and Jr. 1. tresma?'i? are new. A key to the species and subspecies of the genus is also given. DESCRIPTIONS OF NEw BIRDS FROM SOUTHERN MEXICO. By E. W. NELSON. From Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington XVI, Nov. 30, I9O3, pp. I5I-I6o. Mr. Nelson gives descriptions of thirteen new species of Mexican birds from the collection of the Biological Survey. One of the most remarkable of these is the Ofnilteme jay, Cyanolyca ?tirabilis, from Omilteme, Guerrero. It is marked with a band of silvery white extending across forehead and back over the eyes behind the ear coverts to unite with a large white area covering the throat and under side of neck. The rest of the head is black and the body dull indigo 'blue. A NEw GROUSE FROM CiLIFORNIA. By FRANK M. CHAPMAN. From Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. History, XX, Art. XI, pp I59-I62, April 25, I0O 4. Mr. Chapman has described the common grouse of the Sierra Nevada Mts., under the name Oe?dra?apus obscurus sierra, the type coming from Echo, E1 Dorado Co. It is a much paler bird thanJ?li?inosur, and although probably derived from this form looks more like obscurus. The range is: "California in the forested portions of the Transition and Boreal zones, 'east of the humid coast belt, and south through the Sierras to Mount Pinos' (Grinnell); north to Fort Klamath, Oregon." ADDITIONAL NOTES To SUMMER BIRDS OF FLATHEAD LAKE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SWAN LAKE. By PERLE MILTON SILLOWA, Bull. University of Montana, No. I8, Biological Series No. 6. I9O3. PP. 29I-3O8, 5 plates. This paper includes a description of the physiographical features of Swan Lake, Montana, and under Oological Notes, additional observations on the nests and eggs of a considerable list of species. Under Notes on New Birds are listed with annotations eleven species not included in the "Summer Birds of Flathead Lake." The paper concludes with a list of all the summer birds which have been observed abot?t Flathead Lake, numbering I37. A nest of the willow thrush was found in the twampy area near the station. "Instead of being situated near the ground, it was six and one-half feet above, in an upright crotch of an oblique thorny sapling. The nest was typical of the willow thrush in construction, but the site was so unusual in my experience that I collected the owner for complete identification." Numerous other interesting- notes bear witness to Mr. Silloway's careful observation and indnstry. BIRD LIFE STORIES, BOOK ONE, by CLARENCE MOORES WEED, is a collection of biog- raphies of twenty-four common birds compiled from the writings of Audubon, Bendire, Nuttall and Wilson. These four writers, as the compiler states "are especially notable for the absorbing interest with which they pursued the study of birds. They were all original investigators, ex- ploring the trackless wilderness in their search for knowledge." Each sketch is followed by a short paragraph defining the geographical distribution of the species. There are also twenty- four portraits from mounted specimens reproduced by the three color process. This book which is to be followed by two others, is intended for use in the higher grades, for which purpose it should prove acceptable. (Square I2 mo, 86 pages, I2 plates; Rand, McNally & Co.) It] BIRDS FROM BENGUET PROVINCE, LUZON, AND FROM THE ISLANDS oF LUBANG, MIN- DORA, Cuvo AND CACAYANCILLO (Bull. Philippine Mus. 3, Jan. 30, I9O4) Richard C. McGregor records all identified species of birds collected or observed on recent expeditions to the above localities. The paper includes zoographical notes, accounts of nndescribed plumages and notes on the rarer species. BIRD-LoRE for March-April is an unusually attractive number, and contains three general articles, all very readable. The splendid series of warbler plates is continued, there being two in this number, the frontispiece representing the Canadian and Wilson, and the second plate the black-throated green and golden-cheeked. There are three pages of Notes from Field and Study, and the Audubon Society Section concludes with Educational Leaflet No. 8, The March Hawk, by William Dutcher, illustrated by L. A. Fuertes. For Teachers and Students contains the third instalment of The'Migration of Warblers by W. W. Cooke. Under "The Warbler Book" the editor asks for cooperation of bird students in securing information regarding the habits of warblers, as noted in another column of this issue.