456 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &;c. 



two series. The systematic arrangement adopted — we are 

 not quite sure as to its origin — commences with the Galli- 

 naceous birds and ends with Pitta ! The Philippine species 

 number 526, besides which species that occur in the Palawan 

 group, but have not yet been found in the Philippines, are 

 introduced in their proper places. Upon this list, as a base, 

 the author proceeds, in the second part of his memoir, to 

 discuss the many and complicated questions connected with 

 the distribution of the birds. Every island is taken in order, 

 a list of its known species is given, and their relationships 

 are discussed. The main conclusions ultimately arrived at 

 seem to be somewhat as follows : — Mr. Everett's view that 

 Palawan and its satellites belong to the Bo mean and not to 

 the Philippine group of islands is amply confirmed on evidence 

 believed to be " incontrovertible.'" Turning now to the 

 Philippine ornis proper, containing 526 species, of which 

 not less than 323 are '^ apparently confined quite strictly to 

 the group,'" Mr. Worcester discusses at length the five 

 " subprovinces ^^ into which Dr. J. B. Steere has proposed 

 to divide the Philippine area, and shows that they are not 

 maintainable. Nor is Mr. Worcester more satisfied with 

 Steere^s proposition that each genus is " represented by but 

 a single species in one place.'" It is shown pretty clearly 

 that this rule does not hold good. We cannot here follow 

 Mr. Worcester into his study of the " factors in the origin 

 and distribution" of the Philippine land-birds. They are 

 illustrated by a map and numerous tables and diagrams. 

 There is also given a very useful list of the titles of the 

 principal recent authorities on the Philippine ornis. 



XXXIX. — Letters, Extracts^ Notices, &^c. 

 We have received the following letters, addressed " to the 

 Editors of ' The Ibis ' " :— 



Sijis^ — In the third volume of the ' Revista do Museu 

 Paulista,' which I have now in preparation, there will be an 

 important paper by Carl Euler on the nesting of Brazilian 



