380 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



in 1860, has only recently come under our notice. Mr. Mason 

 does not appear to have much scientific knowledge, and relies 

 chiefly upon Mr. Blyth, Major Phayre, and other well-known 

 authoi'ities for his information. He (or his printer) make sad 

 mistakes when scientific terms are used. As far as regards 

 ornithological matters, the volume seems principally a compila- 

 tion, but may still be worth referring to by those who want to 

 learn something of Burmah and its productions. 



2. French Publications. 



The ' Revue et Magasin de Zoologie ' for the present year has 

 already presented us with four valuable papers by MM. Jules 

 Verreaux and 0. DesMurs. On one of these by the gentleman 

 last named, relating to the ' Tachard ' of Le Vaillant, we have 

 already given Mr. J. H. Gurney's remarks*. Of the joint 

 attempt of these two ornithologists to identify Falco eleonora 

 of Gen^ with the veritable Falco concolor of Temminck, we can 

 only say, we are not yet convinced, though we have been for 

 some time acquainted with the serious suspicions that have pre- 

 vailed upon this subject in several quarters. We gladly wel- 

 come the same naturalists' additions to their previous ' Catalogue 

 of the Birds of New Caledonia,' and further notes on the species 

 previously mentioned. The number of New Caledonian birds 

 now kno^vn appears to be eighty-one. But their third paper 

 also conveys some intelligence which demands serious attention. 

 It is a description of a new species of Synoicus (lege Syncectis), 

 founded on a single example taken in Lombardy ! We have 

 only to express our hope that Dr. Bree will not include S. lo- 

 doisite in his promised Supplement, on the strength of this 

 very singular capture. It is hard enough for the unbelieving 

 spirit of a naturalist to credit the fact of an Australian bird of 

 any kind occurring in Europe ; but that the first example of a 

 new species should take the trouble to desert the Antipodean 

 continent, and divulge its existence to civilized man for the 

 first time in the middle of the kingdom of Italy, quite surpasses 

 our belief. Credat Judaus Apella, non nos ! C'est un peu trop 

 fort. Messieurs nos confreres ! 



* See antea, p. 361. 



