Recent Ornithological Publications. 183 



xiii. p. 286, pi. 356; ' Nauraannia/ 1851, iv. p. 3, and 1852, iii. 

 p. 67, cum fig.). Can it be a hybrid between T. pilaris and T. 

 iliacus ? The type-specimen of the so-called T. illuminus appears 

 to have been killed some tv>fenty years ago in Lusatia (Saxony), 

 and was preserved in Baron von Lobenstein^s collection at Lohsa 

 (Tobias, 'Abhandl. Naturf. Gesellsch. zu Gdrhtz,^ iv. i. p. 32). 

 The remaining portion of Herr Meves* first paper, though con- 

 taining valuable information, does not seem to call for further 

 notice here. 



The second communication made to the same volume by this 

 industrious observer is not a little singular. It is " Ou the Red 

 Colouring in Gypaetus" (p. 487), a subject which has already 

 attracted attention in this Journal ('Ibis,^ 1859, pp. 85 & 177). 

 By a simple chemical test, he ascertained that the red colouring 

 is due to a superficial deposit of oxide of iron on the feathers, and 

 he says that the colouring-matter on the eggs also arises from 

 the same cause. He suggests that this stain is owing to the 

 birds bathing in water containing iron in solution, but judici- 

 ously remarks that this point must be investigated in the birds' 

 own homes. During his journey in Jemtland, noticed above, Herr 

 Moves had observed the same peculiarity in some of the feathers 

 of the Crane {Grus cinerea), which he then found to be caused by 

 the presence of iron. We hope some of our readers may try an 

 experiment with the feathers of Swans, which, especially in the 

 wild species [Cygnus ferus diad C. minor), are so often tinged with 

 rufous. 



3. American Publications. 



We have lately received the latter part of vol. vii., and the 

 commencement of vol. viii., of the ' Proceedings of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History,' which have been kindly transmitted 

 to this Journal. They contain several articles on ornithology. 

 Dr. Henry Bryant (p. 226) attempts to show that Sclater's 

 identification of two birds from Bogota [Turdus swainsonii and 

 Vireo oUvaceus) with North-American species is erroneous. To 

 the former he proposes to restore the name Turdus minimus, 

 given to it by M. de Lafresnaye; for the latter he makes a new 

 name, Vi7'eo hogotensis. 



