274 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



adequate description being made so as to convey to a reader 

 a correct idea of the shades of colour and minute markings 

 of these birds. Mr. Keulemans's brush speaks with far more 

 eloquence on this point, as the fourteen beautiful plates which 

 accompany this volume show. 



The synonymy of each species is given in great detail, and 

 appears to be very complete. We are glad to notice that in 

 this volume Mr. Sharpe has succeeded in avoiding any start- 

 ling changes of names of well-known species, and in this 

 respect has not followed the precedent of his former one, a 

 forbearance on his part on which we heartily congratulate 

 him. 



Mr. Sharpe has a long task before him, which must neces- 

 sarily occupy him many years, ere this Catalogue of Birds can 

 be finished ; but we do not doubt his energy to accomplish 

 what he has undertaken. 



The American expedition to observe the transit of Venus 

 in Kerguelen's Island has been the means of producing an 

 interesting paper on the ornithology of that inhospitable 

 region from the pen of Dr. J. H. Kidder, the naturalist at- 

 tached to the expedition. The book is edited by Dr. Coues, 

 who named Dr. Kidder's specimens and supplied the syn- 

 onymy of the species observed^. 



This little work is very welcome, containing, as it does, 

 the first connected account of the birds of Kerguelen's Island, 

 though some of its winged inhabitants have been known and 

 recorded as long ago as the latter part of the last century. 

 With the single exception of Chionis minor, all the species 

 observed belong to marine or aquatic families, members of 

 the Procellariidse forming the greater part of the Avhole 

 number. In determining these Dr. Coues reopens a subject 

 which occupied much of his attention some ten years ago 



* Contributions to the Natural History of Kergueleu Island, made in 

 connection with the American Transit-of- Venus Expedition 1874-76. 

 By J. II. Kidder, M.D., Passed Assistant-Surgeon U.S. Navy. I. Orni- 

 thology, edited by Dr. Elliot Coues, U.S.A. 8vo, pp. 47. Washington 



1875.'^ 



