Recently published Ornithological Works. 145 



and Picariae, which, according to Dr. Sharpe's Classification, 

 ought to be arranged in the following six '^Orders." It 

 should be observed that ''Order XVIII. Palaraedeiformes/' 

 having been accidentally omitted in vol. i., the first Order 

 in vol. ii. is the twenty-eighth, not the twenty-seventh. 



No. of No. of 



Order. „ „ 



(jrenera. opecies. 



XXVIII. Psittaciforraes 83 586 



XXIX. Coraciiformes 218 1237 



XXX. Trogones 10 56 



XXXI. Coccyges 52 238 



XXXII. Scansores 29 218 



XXXIII. Picifornies 64 509 



456 2844 



While fully admitting the value and utility of the new 

 ' Hand-list,' we must once more express our regret that 

 it should commence from the bottom of the Series of 

 Birds instead of from the top — ^just the reverse of the 

 course pursued in the ' Catalogue.' Some writers will 

 follow the system of the ' Catalogue ' and others that of the 

 ' Hand-list,' which will cause much confusion. It should be 

 also observed that all the writers of the individual portions 

 of the ' Catalogue ' have followed the " top-to-bottom " plan, 

 which is likewise used as regards these individual portions 

 in the ' Hand-list.' So that the * Hand-list ' proceeds as it 

 were from the bottom upwards by a series of minor descents 

 (from the top to the bottom) in the individual portions. 

 When the ordinary plan of commencing with the higher 

 forms and descending to the lower is followed, we get a 

 uniform descending series, which is much better. 



In his Introduction to vol. ii. the author "urges on all 

 ornithologists that full advantage should be taken of any 

 doubt which can prevent the displacement of a well-known 

 generic or specific name by one less-known." This is a 

 most worthy sentiment, to which the many zoologists who 

 are sick of the frequent changes proposed by the advocates of 

 " unlimited priority " will all agree. But we may ask, why 

 is this excellent inspiration not more closely followed by the 



SER. Vm. VOL. I. L 



