Recent Ornithological Publications. 119 



supposed species as a bird very similar iu colour to the hybrid 

 which has been variously denominated Fuliyula homeyeri or F. 

 ferinoides, except that it has the head of a dark brownish-black 

 colour, glossed with green — a character which would lead us to 

 suspect that F. marila and F. cristata are accountable for its 

 origin. Another noteworthy fact mentioned by Herr Radde is, 

 that specimens of Falco vespertinus from Eastern Siberia, have 

 the under surface of the wings either entirely white or white 

 barred with grey, instead of the uniform deep tint which is found 

 in European examples. The former are distinguished by our 

 author as " var. amurensis"^. We must also take occasion to re- 

 mark that Herr Radde, who has certainly enjoyed preeminent 

 opportunities for observation, declares (p. 292) that Syrrhaptes 

 paradoxus lays four instead of three eggs. This statement is in 

 confirmation of that of M.Delanoue, but opposed to the testimony 

 of Prof. Reinhardt {cf. 'Ibis,^ 1864, p. 196), as well as to what 

 might be supposed, by analogy from the prevalent practice in 

 other Pteroclida, to be the habit in Syrrhaptes. 



5. American. 



'The Journal of Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy^ 

 for last June contains a paper by Mr. Lawrence, which, though 

 not a long one, demands a somewhat detailed notice here. The 

 species (four in number) characterized as new have all been 

 previously mentioned in that gentleman's lists of the Birds of 

 Panama, published in the ' Annals of the New York Lyceum,' 

 but have been mentioned under other names. Tachyphonus rubri- 

 frons is apparently distinct from T. xanthopygius, to which Mr. 

 Lawrence formerly referred it. Aathus parvus is now separated 

 from what the author considers to be A. rufus of Gmelin, from 

 Bahiaj but having regard to what Professor Baird has recently 

 said in his 'Review of the Birds of North America' as to our 

 confused knowledge of the South American Titlarks, we cannot 

 help feeling that the difficulty in making them out is hardly 

 decreased by this addition to the number of described species. 



Mr. Lawrence is at some pains to show that Thumnophilus 

 nigricristatus differs from T. nffinis, Cab. and Heine (Mus. Hein. 



* We hear that Mr. Giu'ney has received this variety from Natal ! 



