188 Nerv and forthcoming Ornithological Works, H^c. 



cediniclfCj Upupiclffi, Capvimulgidae, Cypselidse); Passeres (Hi- 

 rundiiiidse, Muscicapidse, Ampelidsej Laniidse, Paridse, Certhiidsej 

 Troglodytidje, Cinclidie, and part of the Turdidse). 



The list seems likely to be a very full one, as the birds not 

 only of Sardinia, but also those of Malta, are included. 



The Rev. J. J. Halley has commenced an illustrated work on 

 Australian Parrots *, AVe admit the force of the temptation to 

 depict a family so nobly represented at the antipodes; but the 

 first part of the present publication does not recommend it either as 

 a work of art or as embodying information likely to be of ser- 

 vice to the science of ornithology. The delineations are very 

 far behind even average productions of a like nature. 



Mr. Gould has just issued the twenty-fourth part of his great 

 work on the ' Birds of Asia.' In it is figured a " Pellorneum 

 palustre, Jerdou/' of which he is unable to give any information, 

 or even a correct reference to the work in which it has been 

 described. As regards the latter point, we believe that we may 

 assure Mr. Gould, with confidence, that the bird has never yet 

 been described at all, and that the only publication of it which 

 has taken place is that in the ' Birds of Asia.' As regards its 

 habitat and locality. Major Godwin-Austen informs us that he 

 obtained one specimen of this rare species, at the end of the 

 month of September, at the base of the Khasia Hills near Chatak, 

 in the great "beel" or marsh there. The species seemed to 

 haunt the thickets of high reeds, and of a kind of bramble which 

 is peculiar to those marshes. It may not be so rare. Major 

 Godwin-Austen observes, as has been supposed; but it is ex- 

 tremely difficult to shoot birds when moving along in a canoe 

 through the reed-beds of that district, and still more difficult to 

 pick them up when shot. Dr. Jerdon likewise obtained a spe- 

 cimen of this bird somewhere in Assam. 



Some characteristic drawings, by Swainson, have recently been 

 published, with short accompanying descriptions by Mr. G. E. 

 Grayf. These plates, twelve in number, were prepared to form 



* A Monogi-aph of the Psittacida? or Parrot Family of Australia. By the 

 Kev. J. J. Halley. Illustrated from original drawings bj' .lames W. Sayer. 

 London, Triibnej". 



t A Fasciculus of the Birds of China. By G. R. Gray, F.R.S. 



