340 RecentUj publ'ishud Oni'ithoJogical IVorks. 



sp. nov. ex fatn. Nectariniidarum), Cinnyris falkensteini, 

 Parus fringillinus, Burnesia melanocephala, Calanwnastes 

 fischeri, Saxicula schaluvn, Tarsiger orientalis, and Pseudo- 

 cossyphiis rufus (gen. et sp. nov. ex subt'ara. Turdinarum) . 



49. Gadow on the Ciunyrimorplue, 



[Catalogue of the Birds in the British Miiseuiu. A'oliime IX. Cinuy- 

 riniorphae : containing the Families Nectariniidie and Muliphagidie (Sun- 

 birds and Iloney-eaters). By Hans Gadow, M.A., Ph.D. Loudon : 



1884.] 



The ninth vohmie of the ' Catalogue of the Birds in the 

 British Museum' is devoted to the two great Old-Workl 

 families Nectariniidie and Meliphagidaj, wherein are compre- 

 hended 355 species. Of these 291 are represented in the 

 national collection by 2450 specimens. As in the case of 

 the eighth volume, the author is Dr. Hans Gadow, now 

 Strickland Curator in the University of Cambridge. 



As regards the Nectariniidse, Dr. Gadow's task has not 

 been a difficult one, Capt. Shelley's excellent illustrated 

 monograph of this beautiful group having been only recently 

 finished. We think, in fact, that Dr. Gadow would have 

 done better if he had followed Captain Shelley's lead even 

 more closely than he has done. His alterations of the last- 

 named author's well-considered work are, in some cases, by 

 no means emendations. Besides, where it comes to be little 

 more than a matter of individual opinion, it is inconvenient 

 to others to diverge unnecessarily from the arrangement 

 adopted by the standard authority on the subject. 



In placing the Zostcropes among the Mcliphagida3, Dr. 

 Gadow, we suppose, acts merely in obedience to higher 

 authority. He says, truly enough, that " their degree of 

 relationship to the Honey-caters is doubtful." But, omit- 

 ting the Zosteropes, which have been treated by Mr. Sharpe, 

 it cannot be said that Dr. Gadow has been successful in 

 the general grouping of this family, as any one who refers to 

 the so-called key (p. 127) must admit. The two genera 

 Melitltreptus and Plectorhynchus are obviously Meli})hagine, 

 and it passe? our comprehension to understand upon what 



