and forthcoming Bird-Books. 175 



Still further eastward our friend and fellow worker^ Mr, 

 Swinhoe (whose health has unfortunately compelled him 

 to return to England), continues to prosecute his inquiries 

 into the Chinese ornis in the most energetic manner*. Our 

 present number contains his account of recent collections 

 formed in Japan by Captain Blakiston ; and for our next issue 

 he promises us an article on the birds obtained at his last 

 place of sojourn, Chefoo. The locality is of great interest, 

 being previously unexplored by naturalists, and lying imme- 

 diately opposite the ^^ great unknown land ^^ ofCorea, whence 

 Mr. Swinhoe has already obtained several novelties. 



In connexion with this part of our subject we must also 

 call attention to Mr. Elwes's suggestive article on the distri- 

 bution of Asiatic birds recently published in the Zoological 

 Society's ' Proceedings,' though this more especially relates to 

 the fauna of the Indian Region, which we now proceed to 

 speak of. 



At the time of his lamented death Dr. Jerdon, as we all 

 know, was engaged in preparing a new edition of his ' Birds 

 of India.' We are glad to be able to state that there is every 

 prospect of his plans being carried out in a very efl&cient 

 manner. The rapid sale of the whole of Dr. Jerdon's original 

 edition shows that there is a great demand for a second ; and 

 every one will allow that Lord Walden is the naturalist best 

 qualified to carry it through the press. In Major Godwin - 

 Austen, who has lately devoted so much time to the investi- 

 gation of Indian ornithology, he will have a most efficient co- 

 adjutor. 



Of our \ndi\2iXi pendant , which rejoices in the eccentric title 

 of ' Stray Feathers,' a notice of parts 1 to 4 has already been 

 given in this Journal f by a writer well qualified to speak of 

 Indian ornithology and all that pertains to it. Part 5 (dated 

 July 1873) is the only additional number received in this 



* Amongst his most remarkaUe recent discoveries is the new Stork, 

 Ciconia boyciana, described and figured P. Z. S. 1873, p. 513, and 1874, 

 pi. i., of which there is a living example in the Zoological Society's 

 Gardens. 



t Ibis, 1873, p. 211. 



