192 1.] Recently published Ornithological ]Vorks. 327 



been met with far more frequently, inhabiting southern and 

 drier parts of the country. 



McGregor on Philippine Birds. 



[Some features of the Philippine Ornis, with notes on the vegetation 

 in rehxtiou to the Avifauna. By Richard C. McGregor. Philippine 

 Journ.'Sci. vol. xvi. 1920, pp. 361-437, map and 34 pis.] 



For a good many years past Mr. McGregor lias been 

 stationed at Manilla, wliere he occupies tlie position of 

 Ornitholosiist in the Bureau of Science. He has bad many 

 opportunities of adding- to our knowledge of the Ijirds of 

 the Philippine Islands, and in the present essay be deals 

 with them chiefly from tbe ecological and geographical 

 aspect. After noticing the great scarcity of sea-birds in 

 tbe Philippine waters and the comparative absence of native 

 birds about the town of Manilla, where the two commonest 

 species are the European Tree-Sparrow and Chinese Crested 

 Minah ( ^'Et hi opsar crista tell us) , he points out how the whole 

 aspect of tbe low country has been changed by the destruc- 

 tion of tbe virgin forest which formerly coveied it, and how 

 most of the indigenous endemic birds are found in tbe 

 forest-regions tbat I'emain, cbiefly in tbe mountainous areas. 



He then discusses the various types of forest, from the 

 mangroves of tbe tide-lands to the pine and the mossy 

 types which cover tbe higher parts of the islands at from 

 20U0 to 4000 feet, and comments on the birds which 

 characterize each type of forest. 



Most of the more interesting Philippine birds inhabit the 

 Dipterocarp type of forest, so-called from its most con- 

 spicuous and. valuable constituent '■'■ Dipterocarpms." The 

 forests are best developed on the well-watei'cd plains or 

 the lower slopes of the larger mountains, genei'allv below 

 5000 feet. 



A further discussion deals with tbe local distribution of 

 the endemic species among the various islands of tbe 

 Archipelago. Most of the species are confined to single 

 islands or groups of islands, and are represented by allied 



