Ornithological Literature of 1871. 445 



Nathusius, W v. 



1 . Die Structur des Vogeleies und deren Beziehungen zur Syste- 

 matik. J. f. 0. 1871, p. 241. 



A resume of the several memoirs on the microscopical structure 

 of the bird's egg, and on its importance in classification, which 

 the author has recently contributed to the ' Zeitschrift f. wissen- 

 schaft). Zoologie (vols, xviii. to xxi.). See Ibis, 1871, p. 454. 

 The conclusion arrived at is that a well-defined type of egg- 

 shell structure belongs to certain families of birds, and ren- 

 ders them easily recognizable on examination of the egg-shell 

 under the microscope. In some cases specific differences are also 

 apparent, e. g. between C. olor and C musicus, and between 

 Anser cinereus and A. segetum. 



2. Ueher die Eischalen von Jl^pyornis, Dinornis, Apteryx und 

 einigen Crijpturiden. Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zool. xxi. p. 330. 



Contains the results of the author's microscopical examination 

 of the egg-shells of jEpyornis, Dinornis, Apteryx, and certain 

 species of Tinamous. His conclusions are : — 



1. A decided approach in ^pyornis to Struthionine charac- 

 ters, and distinctness from those of the larger Accipitres. 



2. A confirmation of the Struthionine characters of Dinornis 

 already pointed out in a previous memoir. 



3. The entire distinctness of the Tinamous (in the characters 

 of their egg-shell) from the typical Gallinse. 



4. The resemblance of these characters in Apteryx to those of 

 Grus and Otis, and (rather less so) to those of the Tinamous. 



Newton, Alfred. 



1. A History of British Birds by the late William Yarrell, 

 V.P.L.S., F.Z.S. Fourth edition. Parts i. & ii. 8vo. 

 London: 1871. 



A revised edition of this important text-book, a large part of 

 which has been re-written, and the whole most judiciously en- 

 larged and corrected, so as to render the work complete up to the 

 present date. Part ii. brings the work partly through the Owls. 



2. Letter from. Ibis, 1871, p. 249. 



Relates to the probable distinctness of Lagopus hemileucurus 

 from L. rupestris. 



