Recently published Ornithological Works. 159 



certainly known as Antarctic is given; those found within 

 the Antarctic Circle being designated by small capitals. 

 There are only eight of the latter. 



32. Sharpe's ' Hand-list of the Genera and Species of Birds.' 



[A Hand-list of the Genera and Species of Birds. (Nomenclator 

 Avivnn turn Fossilium turn Viventium.) By H. Bowdler Sharpe, LL.D. 

 Vol. III. London, 1901. Pp. xii, 367. Price 10s. 6d.] 



In the third volume of the ^Hand-list' the formidable 

 task of cataloguing the great group of Passer es is commenced, 

 and carried through the Mesomyodians into the Oscines. 

 The fourth volume, to be issued, we are informed, in 1902, 

 will contain the enumeration of the remaining Oscines and 

 complete this important work. 



The following table shows the numbers of the genera and 

 species catalogued in the present volume, according to the 

 classification there adopted : — 



Order. No. of genera. No. of species. 



XXXIV. EurylJBiuiformes 7 16 



XXXV. Menuriformea 1 3 



XXXVI. Passeriformes. 



Subord. Mesomyodi 242 1665 



„ Acromyodi 127 1256 



377 2940 



So that we have enumerated in all 2940 species referred to 

 377 genera. 



The task of classifying the Acromyodi or Oscines correctly 

 is, as Dr. Sharpe allows, almost hopeless, according to 

 the present state of our knowledge ; but we cannot quite 

 understand why he should commence his list with the 

 Swallows. The Hirundinidae, which have entirely lost their 

 outer primary, are without doubt one of the most highly 

 develojaed forms of Oscinine bird-life and should come very 

 near the top of the series — i. e. at the further end — in a 

 classification which commences, as Dr. Sharpens does, from 

 the bottom. 



We also venture to suggest that it would have been a great 



