94 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



ing with the Aves carinat(e and Aves ratitce of Merrem, and 

 gives his reasons for commencing his subject by treating of the 

 sternum — without doubt the most characteristic portion of the 

 bird-skeleton. No one can hesitate to agree with M. Blanchard 

 as to the importance of determining how far the external cha- 

 racters of the animals of this class correspond with their osteolo- 

 gical structure, and as to the value of the coincidences thus 

 established in guiding us to a truly natural arrangement. It is 

 with much pleasure we find M. Blanchard's attention in France, 

 as well as Mr. Ey ton's in our own country, now turned to this 

 much-neglected subject. 



The chapters devoted to the examination of the different 

 modifications of the sternum of birds follow in order. We give 

 a list of the names of the Linnean genera which head the several 

 sections, by which a general idea of the affinities pointed out by 

 M. Blanchard, as deducible from the examination of the sternum, 

 may be formed, i. Falco [Helotarsus is hardly different from 

 true Aquila ; Spilornis is near Buteo, from which also Milvus has 

 barely sufficient characters to distinguish it) : ii. Gypogeranus : 

 III. Gypaetus : IV. VuLTUR [Gypohierax resembles Neophron) : 

 V. Strix {Bubo and Scops resemble Otus and Brachyotus) : vi. 

 PsiTTACUS : VII. Fringilla, Loxia, Alauda, Parus, Sturnus, 

 Corvus, Paradisea, Certhia, Motacilla, Turdus, Lanius, 

 MusciCAPA, PiPRA, Tanagra, and Hirundo (all these have a 

 very similar conformation of the sternum ; Paradisea most re- 

 sembles Corvus and Gai'rulus, as also Meliphaga ; Menura is 

 peculiar) : viii. Cypselus : ix. Caprimulgus : x. Trochilus : 

 XI. Upupa and Irrisor : xii. Merops and Momotus : xiii. 

 Alcedo : XIV. Tonus : xv. Galbula : xvi. Capito and Bucco : 

 XVII. Picus and Yunx: xviii. Ramphastos : xix. Turacus : 

 XX. Trogon : XXI. Coracias : xxii. Crotophaga and Cucu- 

 Lus : XXIII. BucEROs. We may state, in conclusion, that we 

 have the satisfaction of agreeing with M. Blanchard in nearly 

 every affinity here pointed out. 



3. German and Russian Publications. 



The third number of Cabanis' ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' con- 

 tains an article by Dr. H. A. Bernstein, of Gadock in the island 



