404 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



during his journey on the Red Sea and in Abyssinia. It seems 

 that no specimens were obtained ; but Dr. Brehm, from his pre- 

 vious travels in this part of the world, is, of course, thoroughly 

 competent to identify most of the species met with. He then 

 gives a series of remarks on the habits and manners of the dif- 

 ferent species, referring often to the accounts of them published 

 in ' Naumannia,' from observations made during his former 

 journey up the Nile. These notes are of much value and 

 interest : we know so little of the life of foreign birds. It is 

 too often the practice of travellers to content themselves with 

 a bare enumeration of the Latin names of the species observed 

 or obtained, without one single word of explanation concerning 

 their habits. 



This part of the Abyssinian coast-land, which is now easily 

 accessible by steamer from Suez, seems to be a very promising 

 field for the ornithologist. Neophron percnopterus, N. occipitalis, 

 Gyps 7-ueppellii, Vultur occipitalis, and Otogyps auricularis are all 

 more or less common. Truly this must be the land of Vultures ! 

 Amongst the more southern African forms, we observe in Dr. 

 Brehm^s list Hapaloderma, Buphaga, Lamprocolius, Vidua, Toccus, 

 PalcEornis, Trachyphonus, and Indicator, offering most attractive 

 novelties to those who are only acquainted with European orni- 

 thology ; and where three German princes can go for a hunting- 

 excursion, there can be few difficulties to be encountered by the 

 brethren of the B. O. U. and their friends. 



6. American Publications. 



In the ' Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia' (1863, p. 383), Mr. W. T. March's " Notes on the 

 Birds of Jamaica " are continued, the scientific determinations 

 and an occasional foot-note being supplied by Professor Baird. 

 Mr. March distinguishes two species of Polytmus Humming- 

 bird in the island, and two of Mellisuga, besides " another small 

 species, rather larger than M. humilis, with the plumage of a 

 bright metallic or bronzed green." Is Mr. March correct here ? 

 Tlie larger Chordeiles virginianus of the Continent appears to be 

 found in Jamaica, as well as Chordeiles minor, which we suppose 

 to be a constantly resident si)ccies. 



