106 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



and encourage us to hope that in a few years, at most, ornitho- 

 logists will be acquainted with it eggs 'and, nestlings. We 

 had been aware since May 1882 that Mr. Newcomb, of the 

 * Jeannette/ had obtained eight specimens, but we did not 

 know until recently that, when it was a question of saving 

 their bare lives, and the necessaries of existence which each 

 one of the shipwrecked crew could carry had to be weighed 

 literally by the ounce, Mr. Newcorab gallantly stuck to three 

 of these birds, and brought them in safety across Asia and 

 Europe to the Smithsonian Institution. He probably remem- 

 bered that the Austro- Hungarian Expedition obtained one 

 at Franz-Josef Land, but abandoned it with the ' Tegetthoff,' 

 and determined that he should not be reproached with the 

 same want of enthusiasm. In the records of collecting we 

 can call to mind no similar instance of bull-dog tenacity. 

 Mr. Nelson obtained another Rosses Gull in the mottled plu- 

 mage of the first year in October, which made four altogether 

 in the Smithsonian at the time of writing his contribution ; 

 and we understand that this summer some further examples 

 have been obtained near Point Barrow. The above are only 

 some of the salient features of this valuable memoir, which 

 will amply repay perusal. 



8. Oates's ' Birds of British Burniah.' 



[A Handbook to the Birds of British Burmah, including those found in 

 the adjoining State of Karennee. By Eugene W. Gates, Executive En- 

 gineer, Public Works Department of India (British Burmah). London : 

 R. H. Porter and Dulau & Co. Vol. II, June 1883. (Completing the 

 Work.)] 



Of the excellent style of Mr. Oates's work, and of the 

 admirable way in which he has carried out his plan of a 

 handbook of the birds of British Burmah, we have already 

 spoken in our notice of his first volume (Ibis, 1883, p. 380). 

 Of the second volume, which treats of all the remaining 

 orders after the Passeres, and completes the work, we need 

 only say that it has been prepared in the same manner and 

 merits equal praise. Few persons who come home from 

 India on two years' leave would like to undertake such a 



