74 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



provided it can be shown that they are invariably distinguishable 

 by constant characters. But we must confess that, judging by the 

 characters given in some cases, Mr. Gould appears to have occa- 

 sionally drawn the line rather fine. We also rather regret that 

 he has not used many of the generic names he has employed 

 merely subgenerically, putting them at the head of the section of 

 the genus to which they refer, instead of using them as the 

 generic name for the species. We do not pretend to say that the 

 difference between a genus and subgenus is anything more than 

 one of degree; and it is only for convenience and facility of 

 recollection that we advocate the latter practice. 



Our correspondent Mr. Swinhoe has published a well-written 

 and agreeable narrative of the British expedition to Pekin in 

 1860*. As the product of the pen of so diligent a contributor 

 to our pages, this volume claims the recognition of ' The Ibis;' 

 for although not an ornithological work, many references to birds 

 and other natural objects observed are introduced. We must 

 remind our readers that Mr. Swinhoe's labours in the cause of 

 natural science during this expedition were purely voluntary on 

 his part, and not in any way recognized by the Government. 

 Mr. Swinhoe tells us — 



" A well-known and learned zoologist, Mr. Blyth of Calcutta, 

 proffered his hard-earned thirty years' experience in Asiatic zoo- 

 logy to illumine the North-China campaign, on the part of Great 

 Britain, with a scientific lustre ; but the niggardly policy of our 

 Government unhesitatingly rejected so noble an offer. Thus 

 the fine opportunities presented by the success of our arms in a 

 comparatively new field would have been entirely lost, had not the 

 zeal of certain private individuals actuated them to devote their 

 leisure hours to the acquirement of those facts in natural history 

 which always form so essential a part in the geography of any 

 country." 



Since Daines Barrington published, in the * Philosophical 

 Transactions' for 1773 (vol. Ixiii. p. 249), his " Experiments and 



* Narrative of the North-China Campaign of 18<i0. By Robert Swinhoe, 

 &c. London, 1861. 1 vol. 8vo. 



