Recently published Ornithological Works. 143 



of quite a new description, not only on account of its 

 seaweed material and beautiful construction, but also from 

 its unique position in "pig-face^' so very near the ground. 

 Silver-eyes and Sericorns seem to be the pioneers of Passerine 

 birds. Except for a stray percher or two, they admit of no 

 rivalry in their monarchy. 



[To be continued.] 



IX. — Notices of recent Ornithological Publications. 

 1. ^Annals of Scottish Natural History.' 



[The Annals of Scottish Natural History. No. 39, July 1901, and 

 No. 40, October 1901.] 



In recording the occurrence of Linota rostrata (Coues) 

 from Barra, Outer Hebrides, jVIr. W. Eagle Clarke justly 

 observes that " a knowledge of the various races of the 

 Arctic or Mealy Redpolls inhabiting the Old and the New 

 Worlds is desirable for the more precise study of the British 

 birds of the group " ; but some of us may think that " this 

 way madness lies " before such knowledge is attained, 

 IVIr. George Sim's announcement of the capture of a Black 

 Kite [Milvus migrans) near Aberdeen on April 16th last is 

 of considerable interest, for this is only the second record 

 for Great Britain of a species which is emphatically migra- 

 tory and nests annually at no greater distance from us than 

 the banks of the IVTosel ; so that instances of its more 

 frequent occurrence might be reasonably expected. JVIore- 

 over there is not much chance of a large raptorial bird 

 escaping observation — not to say destruction — in these 

 days. JVIr. T. G. Laidlaw concludes his Report on the 

 movements and occurrences of birds in Scotland during 

 1900 ; and from this, as well as from some minor notices 

 for 1901, it is evident that the Great Spotted Woodpecker 

 {Dryocojius major) is decidedly increasing as regards fre- 

 quency of breeding in the soutli of Scotland. jMr. Sturrock 

 states that in the south of Shetland, in 1901, he captured 

 a Redstart (^Ruticilla phcenicurus) in the act of building a 



