Eecenthj pithlislied Ornithological Works. 147 



British East Africa), and A. vaalensis (from Northern Natal 

 and the Transvaal). 



30. Stirling and Zietz on Genyornis newtoni. 



\_Genyornis newtoni. A new Genus and Species of Fossil Struthious 

 Bird. By E. C. Stirling and A. H. C. Zietz. Mem. R. Soc. South 

 Australia, vol. i. pt. 3. Adelaide : 1900.] 



This is a useful reprint, with additions and corrections, 

 of the two articles in the ' Transactions ' of the Royal Society 

 of South Australia already noticed (see Ibis, 1897, p. 135 ; 

 1899, p. 328). The sternum, ribs, coraco-scapula, and wing- 

 bones of Genyornis are now described and figured ; but we 

 still require an account of the skull, which is promised 

 shortly. 



There can now be no doubt that this bird was a gigantic 

 Emeu, rivalling Dinornis in its height, which is estimated to 

 have been over 6 feet. Conspicuous differences are the 

 enormous head, huge femur, aud the reduction of the number 

 of digits in the outer toe from the normal five to four. On 

 this point the authors remark : — 



'^ This fact must oppose the view that Genyornis stands in 

 the direct ancestral line of the existing members of the 

 group. For the segment in question having been once 

 dropped, it seems impossible that it shouUl have been re- 

 acquired by the later forms. These facts, however, notwith- 

 standing, the Emeu, so far as we have proceeded, would 

 appear to be the nearest ally of the fossil Genyornis, though 

 there are undoubtedly resemblances, other than in respect 

 to mere bulk, to the Dinornithidse.'^ 



31. Ussher and Warren's 'Birds of Ireland.' 



[The Birds of Ireland. By Richard J. Ussher and Robert Warren. 

 London : (turuey & Jackson, 1900. Pp. xxxii, 419. Price 30.s.] 



Since the year 1851, when the third volume of Thompson's 

 ' Natural History of Ireland ' was issued, no detailed account 

 of the Avifauna of that country as a whole has been published, 

 and we are therefore leady, and more than ready, to welcome 



l2 



