404 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



Stuttgardt, and Philadelphia, which have been made by Dr. 

 Hartlaub himself, with the assistance of Jules Verreaux, v. Pel- 

 zeln, Schlegel, Krauss, Heuglin, and Cassiu. 



We have already noticed the fact, that out of the 203 INIada- 

 gascar bii'ds enumerated by Dr. Hartlaub, 97 are exclusively con- 

 fined to the island. The eccentricity of this fauna is, however, 

 still further demonstrated by the fact that no less than 29 of 

 the genera to which these birds are referable are also forms purely 

 Madagascarian, and not met with in the adjoining continent 

 or elsewhere. Some of these genera, it is true, may be said to 

 be founded upon slight peculiarities ; but others, such as Bra- 

 chyjjferacias, Atelornis, Falculia, Philepitta, Oriolia, Euryceros, 

 Mesites, &c., are possessed of such ambiguous characters that 

 their position in the natural series is still in many cases un- 

 settled. That Madagascar has something in common with 

 Africa may be inferred from the fact that 42 of its species of 

 birds also occur on the mainland of the continent. But, on the 

 other hand. Dr. Hartlaub points out that the families Muso- 

 phagida, Lamprotornithida, Bnphagida, Budkrotida, and others, 

 besides many genera which are especially characteristic of Afri- 

 can ornithology, are not met with in Madagascar. With regard 

 to the views of Geoffroy St.-Hilaire and Pucheran, that this 

 fauna has something in common with India, Dr. Hartlaub re- 

 marks on the occurrence in Madagascar of Ninox, Ploceus, Co- 

 psychus, and Hypsipetes, as well as of several well-known Indian 

 species. But it has always remained a doubtful point to us, 

 whether the presence of some of these may not be attributable to 

 introduction by man's agency or some other means. 



After giving this imperfect account of the many interesting 

 statements contained in Dr. Hartlaub's introduction to his little 

 book, we have only to say, in conclusion, that the Synopsis of 

 species is worked out in our author's usual accurate and pains- 

 taking style, and forms a worthy companion to his well-known 

 volume on the Birds of Western Afi-ica. Short but well- 

 drawn diagnoses are given of all the birds peculiar to the island, 

 as also ample synonymy and references, and, in fact, every par- 

 ticular which such a handbook of the ornithology of a local 

 district ought to embrace. We sincerely hope this may not be 



