REVEW5 A Study of the Structure of Feathers, with Reference to that Taxonomic Significance. By Asa C. Chandler. University of California Publications in Zoology, Vol. XIII., No. 11, pp. 243-446, pis. 13-37. April 17, 1916. Published separately. THIS important paper is divided into two parts, the first dealing with the structural modifications of various kinds of feathers, and the second with special group characters, modifi­ cations and peculiarities arranged in systematic order. In the first part the author discusses the occurrence, distribution and structure of plumules of various kinds, of filoplumes and of all the different contour feathers. He then proceeds to show what different modifications occur in feathers of different groups of birds to produce the same results so far as colour is concerned. In this connexion Mr. Chandler made a very interesting discovery in the case of an albino Mallard. In a normal Mallard certain parts of the feathers of the violet-blue speculum are highly modified for the production of the colour. In the albino not only was there no pigment, but this modification was entirely lacking and the structure of the feathers of the speculum was like that of normal feathers in which there is no modifica­ tion for colour. The factors causing pigment and specializa­ tion of feather structure for the production of colour would thus seem to be intimately associated. The second part of the paper is the more important and original, for no previous attempt has been made in a systematic way to use differences in the minute structure of feathers, as revealed by the microscope, as guides in the classification of birds. Our present knowledge of the subject is so imperfect that any additional sign-post to the true relationships of birds is indeed welcome. Mr. Chandler has here, after enormous labour and great research, presented us with a new guide which demands most serious consideration. The author's methods of investigation seem to have been very thorough. He found that so far as species of the same genus were concerned, there was no considerable variation in the feather structure as a rule, while generic differences were usually so slight as to form no good basis. In all groups higher than genera, however, he states that differences, though in variable degrees, may almost always be detected, though it is necessary to compare the structure of feathers from the same parts of the body. VOL. X.] REVIEWS. 171 Mr Chandler has compared his results with the classifica­ tion of Knowlton and Ridgway, which is much the same as that used by Gadow. He states that the evidence brought forward by his examination of feathers strongly supports the grouping above mentioned, but suggests certain modifica­ tions, some of which are of special interest to us as students of British birds. We are very glad to see that Mr. Chandler insists on the necessity of basing classification on all the available char­ acters, and we congratulate him on having shown by his research that the minute structure of feathers provides a hitherto untried and valuable guide. H. F. W. Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1915, including Migration. By Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul. Forming the July and August, 1916, issues of TheScottish Naturalist. Scotch ornithologists are to be congratulated on having performed much good work during 1915, notwithstanding the war, and in having such very competent chroniclers as is evidenced by this Report. When noticing these reports in previous years, we have remarked on the excellent system upon which they are drawn up. We do not see that the arrangement could be bettered, but if we may make one little criticism we would suggest that the county or group of islands in which the localities are situated should be given. It frequently happens that localities producing interesting ornithological news are deemed of no importance to map-makers. Hence there is often con­ siderable difficulty in discovering where these places are, and if only as an aid to southern readers (we doubt if all Scotch ones would scorn it) we would ask the authors to consider our suggestion with favour. The following items from the Report worthy of special note have not been published previously. HAWFINCH {Coccothraustes c. coccothraustes).—One in ­ shire on July 23rd. SISKIN (Oarduelis spinus).—One at Flannan Isles (Outer ) on October 5th, and one at Butt of Lewis on the 8th. The Siskin is seldom reported from the Outer Hebrides. BEAMBMNG (Fringilla montifringiUa).—Three were on the Island of Noss () on July 4th. ORTOLAN BUNTING {Emberiza hortulana).—Single birds at on October 6th and 16th and November 1st. LITTLE BTJNTINO (E pusilla).—One at Pentland Skerries on October 12. WOOD-LARK {Lulhda a. arborea).—At Fair Isle three on January 5th and one on the 8th. SHORTS-LAWK (Eremnphila a. ftava).—One at Hoy High (Orkneys) on March 25th. 172 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. x. BLOT-HEADED WAGTAIL.—At Fair Isle either M. j. fiava or M, j, thunbergi occurred on October 16th, 18th or 26th. YRLLOW WAGTAIL (M. /. rayi).—One at the Island of Noss on May 21st, PIED FLYCATCHER (Mmcicapa h. hypolewa).—At the Flannans one on September 17th, and at the Butt of Lewis, one on the 20th and another on October 10th. This speeies is rarely reported from the Outer Hebrides. GARDEN-WARBLER (Sylvia borin.).-—One at the Pentland Skerries on May 24th should be noted as the bird has seldom been recorded in the Orkneys in spring. BLAOKOAP(8.a,atricapitta).—One at Butt of Lewis October 11th to 15th. LESSER WHITETHROAT (8. c, currwoa),—-One at the Pentland Skerries on October 9th. MISTLE-THRTJSH (Turd-m v, visoivorus).—Two at Barra Head (Outer Hebrides) on April 14th. RING-OUZEL (T. t, torquatm),—-At the Butt of Lewis lantern on October 19th. REDSTART (Phoeniourus ph, phcenicurus),—-In the Outer Hebrides, where it is a rare visitor, one at the Butt of Lewis on May 15th, and " Passage migration is reported steadily from stations in the Northern Isles and Outer Hebrides from 20th to 27th Sep­ tember and 5th to 22nd October." One at Pentland Skerries on November 7th-—a very late date. BLACK REDSTART (Ph. o. gihraltariensis}.—Most unusual numbers of Black Redstarts were recorded in 1914, while in 1915 there were considerably more than the average. One found dead at Little Ross (Kirkcudbrightshire) on March 4th, and one near Glasgow on May 9th, are particularly interesting, as the bird is very rarely noted on the west side of . Others were :—, one on April 30th, Tarbatness (Ross-shire), two on September 26th, Pentland Skerries, single birds on April 26th and May 4th and small numbers between October 8th and 24th. RLITETHROAT (Luscinia sueciea).—One at Fair Isle on Oetober 8th. HOOPOB (Upupa e. epops).—One on the Pentland Skerries on May 19th. SNOWY OWL (Nyctea nyctea).—One seen at Little Ross on February 4th. BARN-OWL (Tyto alba).—A Barn-Owl, of which race is unknown, was reported from Galson (Outer Hebrides) on March 5th. So far as we know there is only one previous reliable record of the Barn-Owl for the Outer Hebrides. SHAG (Phalacrocorax g. graculm).—A breeding record interesting to compare with those given in Mr, Jourdain's article (Brit, B„ VIT., pp. 97-8) is given (p. 155) as follows;—A pair at the Butt of Lewis had their nest nearly built on March 22nd, this was destroyed and another built and eggs laid by May 5th. After the first brood had left the nest, the latter was " replenished " and three eggs were laid and hatched about September 5th, two young were still in the nest on October 24th, one left on the 31st, and the last not until November 6th after the old bird had pulled the remains of the nest off the ledge. SOOTY SHEARWATER (Pufjfmus griseus).—Single birds at Butt of Lewis on July 19th and 25th. GREY PLOVER (Squatarola squatarola).—On September 11th and 12th at Galson, in the Outer Hebrides, where the bird is a rare visitor. GRBEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus).—Single birds at Fair Isle and Swona () early in August. WHTMBREL (Numenius ph. phoeopus).—One at Fairlie (Ayrshire) and one at Galson in January are interesting winter occurrences. H. F. W.