BOOK NOTICES. 305 



the road is bridged by Falcunculus, and probably here will have to comp some of 

 he aberrant Liotricfies, which are most puzzling birds to locate. We follow Mr. 

 Oates in placing them as Timeliince birds, but both our family Timeliidoe of the 

 "Catalogue" and Mr. Oates's family C rater op odidw have too ample limits. 



The Vireonidce, according to Dr. Shufeldt, are more Mniofciltine than Laniine, 

 and the importance of their form of bill has been exaggerated, while the Laniidce 

 have got such remarkable osteological characters, that Dr. Shufeldt has put them on 

 the boundary of Passeres. Mr. Oates, for quite other characters, also puts them 

 far from the Paridue. Whether our position for the Shrikes is natural is a fair sub- 

 ject for discussion, our chief objection to it being that it separates the Sylviidce so 

 far from the Mrtiotiltida; in the linear series. Once, however, that we have passed 

 tli is break in the natural order, and we arrive at the Sylviidce, the affinities of the 

 Turdidce, Cincli.lx, and Troylodytida are evident, the Accentors are probably rightly 

 placed in proximity, and the Timeliidce in their comprehensive sense follow. The 

 affinities of some of these birds with the Muscicapidoz are closer than would be 

 imagined, but Mr. Oates's favourite character of the spotted young is of great use 

 in determining the limits of these two families. 



R. Bowdler Shakpe, 

 — The Field, Wk April 1890. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



I. PAINTED SANDGROUSE NEAR BARODA- 



Ox Julv 6th I got a pair of common Sandgrouse near Sikandarpur village, 

 about three miles east of Baroda, and shortly afterwards put up two Sandgrouse, 

 which proved to be painted, not common, Sandgrouse. Next day six more were 

 seen and some shot near the same place. This is the first time I have met the 

 painted Sandgrouse west of Champanir. It is common at the foot of Pawagadh 

 hill, and in the summer may be seen at dusk — it is crepuscular— drinking at the 

 Vada-talao bevond Champanir. The birds shot on the Gth and 7th at Baroda were 

 on an open plain with scattered bushes. 



H. LlTTLEDALE. 



Baroda, July 1890. 



II. THE GADWALL AND BLUE-BEAKED BOOBY. 



Yesterday, 15th June 1890, a shikari brought me a yearling female Gadwal 

 freshly shot. It had apparently suffered some injury to one wing, which must 

 have prevented its migration, btrt was quite fat and in excellent condition for 

 the table. 



