790 Recently published Ornitholugical Works. 



be devoted to the Avifauna of Australia alone. Many 

 points are brought out by the author, as he traces the 

 history of the species from Linnaeus downwards, checks or 

 corrects their synonymy, and discusses their distribution in 

 the world generally. 



With regard to the Gannets Mr. Mathews adopts the 

 generic title Piscatrix of Reichenbach for the Linnean 

 Pelecanus sula; Sula of Brisson for Boddaert's P. leucogaster\ 

 his own two genera Parasula aiid Sulita for S. dactylatra 

 of Lesson [^cyanops auct.) and S. bassana of Linnaeus 

 respectively. These genera differ in the number of rectrices, 

 size, colour-changes, and adult plumage, while the curious 

 difference in the scutellation of the feet is shown by wood- 

 cuts for Piscatrix and Sula. No new subspecies are 

 proposed, but the author's leucogaster rogersi is dropped, 

 i^nd piscator of Linnaeus is shown to be too doubtful for 

 acceptance. 



Under the Frigate-birds, which are given even fuller 

 treatment than the Gannets, the first point is that Fregata 

 is considered by Mr. Mathews a very doubtful member of 

 the Pelecaniformes ( = Steganopodes), and it may be as well 

 to state here that he totally denies the claim of Phaethon 

 to be included in the order, for he looks upon it as an 

 aberrant Lariform genus. The next point is that Fregata 

 aquila L. is not the wide-spread species that has been sup- 

 posed; this is F. minor (Gm.) of the tropical and subtropical 

 seas, whereas F. aquila occurs only around Ascension Island 

 in the Atlantic. Frigate-birds are now stated to be " no 

 wanderers," but to inhabit very definite areas. Other 

 species recognised are F. ariel and F. andrewsi Mathews. 

 An article from the Austral Avian Record, vol. ii., is 

 reprinted to show the subspecies proposed. 



With regard to the Tropic-birds, Phaethon is preserved 

 ■with the type P. (Ethereus L.; Scoiopjhaethon Mathews is once 

 more used for P. rubricauda; and Leptopha'ethon Mathews 

 for P. lepturus : the division of the original genus being 

 warranted in the author's opinion by size and colour of 

 plumage. The species and subspecies are noted on pp. 303, 



