266 Recently published Ornithological Works, 



two more livraisotis have been issued. These complete the 

 first volume of the work, and include the account of the genus 

 Aithurus according to jNI. INIuIsaut's arrangement. 



Having already referred to the object and execution of the 

 work itself, we will confine ourselves to noticing a few points 

 that occur to us in reading M. Mulsant's pages. 



Shaw's name, Lampornis jwrphyrurus , for the well-known 

 Jamaican Humming-bird, which Mr. Elliot identified with 

 the true L. mango of Linnseus, is adopted by M. Mulsant. 

 Though we entirely sympathize with the author in this and 

 all such cases where changes of names are sought to be made, 

 we cannot but feel the strength of Mr. Elliot's position. The 

 brief Linnsean diagnosis must not only be interpreted by re- 

 ference to Albin (an imtrustworthy authority, never to be for- 

 given for drawing a Sanderling with a long hind toe !), but 

 also note must be taken of the weighty authority of Sloane 

 and Brisson ; and these point to the Jamaican bird as the true 

 mango of Linnaeus. M. Mulsant rests his case upon the render- 

 ing of the words viridis nitens of the Linnsean diagnosis, which 

 certainly do apply more accurately to the continental species. 



In giving the distribution of Lampornis [Chalybura) isaurce, 

 M. Mulsant mistakes Santa Fe in Veragua for the well-known 

 Santa Fe de Bogota. The bird has never been seen out of 

 the district of Veragua, or (as it should be more properly called) 

 the State of Panama. M. Mulsant is also inaccurate in 

 stating that Arce obtained specimens of Lampornis {Chaly- 

 bura) urochrysea in Veragua ; we have not yet been fortunate 

 enough to meet with specimens in collections from that dis- 

 trict. Of L. calosoma the locality remains as yet undetermined, 

 though M. Mulsant states it to be New Granada. For this 

 species he suggests the subgeneric name Crinis. We notice 

 that Doryfera ludovicice is said to be found in Veragua; this 

 is a mistake, the species being D. veraguensis. Eight plates 

 accompany these parts, including drawings of Doryfera eu- 

 phrosince, Thalurania lerchi, Oreonympha nobilis, and Diphlo- 

 gcsaa hesperus, none of which has been figured before. 



vrage publie par la Society Liuneenne de Lyon. 4to: livraisons 3, 4. 

 Paris: 1B74. 



