494 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



historical accounts of the numerous and important collections 

 presented to the Museum through various Departments of 

 the Chicago Exposition. Special reports upon the present 

 state of other departments of the Museum follow, and amongst 

 these is one on the Department of Ornithology, of which, as 

 we have already announced, Mr. Cory is the Curator and 

 Mr. Cherrie the Assistant Curator. 



Besides the mounted collection of birds, in which 650 

 species are represented, including a pair of the extinct La- 

 brador Duck {Camptoloiinus labradorius) , the Department of 

 Ornithology is fortunate in possessing the Cory collection of 

 West-Indian birds, and the excellent ornithological library 

 formerly belonging to the same gentleman. Several good 

 additions have been already received, and the Department 

 has sent a collector to San Domingo, while the Curator him- 

 seK is at work in Florida. 



112. Hartlauh on Extinct Birds. 



[Ein Beitrag zur Gescliichte der ausgestorlienen Vogel der Neuzeit 

 sowie derjenigen deren Fortbestehen bedrolit erscheint. Von Dr. G. 

 Hartlaub, Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen, xiv. Heft 1, 1895.] 



In this memoir our veteran associate gives us an interesting 

 essay on the most noticeable forms of ornithic life that have 

 recently become extinct, and on others that are in danger 

 of becoming so. After alluding to the principal previous 

 authorities on this subject. Dr. Hartlaub specifies the various 

 agencies that have tended to produce this lamentable result — 

 such as forest-fires, the felling of forests for purposes of culti- 

 vation, the introduction of cats, pigs, rats, sparrows, and 

 other animals into foreign lands, and the destruction of 

 millions of beautiful birds to provide ornaments for ladies' 

 hats. But, as Sir Walter Buller has remarked, there are 

 doubtless other agencies tending in the same direction, of 

 which we have at present no information. 



Dr. Hartlaub's account of species threatened with extermi- 

 nation gives particulars concerning some 16 members of this 

 unhappy class. As regards the Carolina Parrakeet and the 

 Californian Vulture, however, we are not sure that things 



