460 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



of Mr. Dresser's ' Birds of Europe/ together constituting 

 vol. i., and rendering this great work complete. The first 

 part was published in March 1871; so that eleven years have 

 barely sufficied for its elaboration. There can be no doubt 

 that, whatever may be its defects and omissions (and in a 

 work of this kind where knowledge is continually progressing 

 at a rapid rate, they must necessarily be numerous) , Dresser's 

 ' Birds of Europe ' is in many respects the best available 

 authority for the student of the birds of the Western Palse- 

 arctic region, and will long remain so. It is the more re- 

 markable as being not the work of a professed naturalist 

 entirely devoting himself to the subject, but of a gentleman 

 engaged in business all day, who has given up the few 

 hours he " could spare from the arduous duties of a city life " 

 to his favourite pursuit. We are sure that all members of 

 the British Ornithologists' Union and other friends of orni- 

 thology will join us in offering the author our warmest con- 

 gratulations upon the completion of his excellent and labori- 

 ous undertaking. 



In the present work Mr. Dresser treats of 624 species of 

 birds as appertaining to the ornis of the western^ Palaearctic 

 region. We read with great pleasure of his intention to con- 

 tinue his labours, and to bring out, after having collected 

 sufficient material, a work on the birds of the Eastern Palse- 

 arctic region, excluding those species which are treated of in 

 the present work. 



62. Godman and Salvin's ' Biologia Centrali- Americana.' 



[Biologia Centrali-Americana'; or Contributions to the Knowledge of 

 the Fauna and Flora of Mexico and Central America. Edited by F. 

 Ducane Godman and Osbert Salvin. (Zoology.) Parts viii. to xvi. 4to. 

 London : 1880-82. Published for the editors by R. H. Porter, 10, Chan- 

 dos Street, Cavendish Square, W.] 



This important work has made steady progress since our 

 last notice ('Ibis,' 1881, p. 160). In 1881 six parts were 

 duly issued ; and the April number of this year is also now 

 before us. In the class of l)irds the Muiotiltidsu arc lini-shcd 

 in part xiv., and the \ irconidic very nearly so in part xv. 



