Recently published Ornithological Works. 103 



With all deference to Dr. Buller, we put these stories on 

 a par with the oft-repeated fable of the hybrids between the 

 domestic duck and the fowl. That Ocydromi will tread hens 

 if they get a chance, we do not doubt ; but that their sper- 

 matozoa will impregnate the latter^s eggs has, as yet, not 

 been shown satisfactorily. Dr. Buller should obtain examples 

 of the alleged produce for the dissecting-knife. 



Besides Dr. Buller's papers the same volume contains : — 

 " Remarks on Dr. von Haast^s Classification of the Moas/^ 

 by Captain F. W. Hutton, Director of the Otago Museum 

 {ibid. p. 363) , which are worthy of attention ; an account of 

 "a Second Discovery of Moa-Bones at Hamilton/' by B. S. 

 Booth [ibid. p. 365) ; some " Notes on the Occurrence of a 

 Curlew [Numenius cyanopus, Vieillot) in New Zealand," by 

 Julius von Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S. {ibid. p. 427) ; and "Notes 

 on the Antarctic Petrel [Priocella antarctica) ,'' by James 

 Hector, C.M.G., M.D., F.B.S. {ibid. p. 464). 



2. Lawrence on New Birds from the Island of Dominica. 



[Descriptions of new Species of Birds from the Island of Dominica. By 

 G. N. Lawi-ence. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. i. pp. 46-49.] 



We are glad to learn that an exploration of some of the 

 least- known of the West-India Islands, for the purpose of 

 elucidating their natural history, has been undertaken by 

 Mr. Fred. A. Ober, of Beverly, Massachusetts, under the 

 auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. As yet his investi- 

 gations have been confined to Dominica, whence two collec- 

 tions of birds have been received, and sent to Mr. Lawrence 

 for determination. « 



In the present paper Mr. Lawrence describes three new 

 species contained in the collection — namely Thryothorus 

 rufescens, DendrKca plumbea, and Myiarchus oberi. Besides 

 these novelties Mr. Ober obtained a series of Thalurania 

 wagleri, hitherto supposed to be from " Brazil,'^ but which 

 is probably peculiar to the island. 



A complete list of the avifauna will be given when the rest 

 of the collections are received. Mr. Ober is now gone on to 

 Antigua. 



