106 Recent Ornilhuloyical Puhlications. 



Loche's Catalogue* of Mammals and Birds observed in Al- 

 geria contains a list of the specimens exhibited at the "Exposi- 

 tion permanente des produits de PAlgerie " at Algiers, with the 

 addition of other species observed by the author in that country. 

 The classification adopted is that of Prince Bonaparte^s ' Cata- 

 logue des Oiseaux d^Europe/ some few synonyms are given, and 

 the ' habitat ' added to each species. The book is a very useful 

 one in its way, particularly as a handbook for tourists, or for 

 those who are working at the ornithology of this country, as by 

 far the most complete list of the birds of Algeria yet issued. 

 But we object to the practice of publishing new specific names 

 in any form without giving descriptions. Who is to know what 

 is intended by " Malurus Sahara, Loche in litt.,'^ " Calen- 

 drella reboudia, hoche in litt.," " Galerida randonii, Loche inlitt.^^ ? 

 Can the public peruse M. Loche^s private correspondence and 

 ascertain what birds he may have so designated ? It stands to 

 reason that the publication of such names without descriptions 

 gives not the slightest title to ])riority, and is only productive 

 of a confusion of synonymy, which retards the progress of 

 science. M. Loche's Catalogue enumerates as species observed 

 by himself — 



Accipitres ... 46 Cursores .... 1 

 Insessores . . . 157 Grallae . . . . /O 

 Colurabae ... 5 Anseres .... 73 



Gallinse .... 6 



Total 358 



An Appendix contains the names of 42 others considered 



doubtful. With regard to the main list, however, we suspect it 



will be difficult to establish the specific validity of such species 



as Amnomanes elegans, Microcarbo algeriensis, and some others. 



3. German Publications. 



Of Cabanis' ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' we have received only 



the first four parts for the last year. We notice some of the 



more remarkable articles. The veteran naturalist Max, Prinz 



zu Wied, contributes a series of interesting papers on the birds 



Catalogue des Mammiferes et des Oiseaux observes en Alge'rie par le 

 Capitaine Loche. Paris, 1858, 1 vol. 8vo. 



