Recently published Ornithological Works. 279 



territory of Santa Cruz was explored and investigated. We 

 eall special attention to this work because of the numerous 

 descriptions of the bird-life of the country interspersed in it, 

 which certainly should not be neglected by the ornithologist, 

 although it is probable that the main facts here recorded 

 will also be given by Mr. W. E. D. Scott in his special 

 ornithological volume, the first part of which was noticed in 

 our last number. We may call attention, for example, to 

 the passages on the Carrion-Hawks (Polybori) of Patagonia 

 (p. 57), to the numerous allusions to the Patagonian Rhea 

 [Rhea darwini) and the Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) , to 

 the description of the large colonies of the Black-faced Ibis 

 {Theristicus melanopis) (p. 178), and to the account of 

 the peculiar habits of Upurerthia dumetoria (p. 83). Many 

 other references to birds will be found in Mr. Hatcher's 

 narrative, which amply prove that, although Palaeontology 

 may be his first love, he is an acute and much interested 

 observer of existing animal-life as well as that of bygone 

 ages. 



47. Hellmayr on Brazilian, Finches. 



[Ueber neue xmd wenig bekannte Fringilliden Brasiliens, nebst Be- 

 merkungen iiber uothwendige Anderimgen in der Noinenclatur einiger 

 Arten. Yon K. E. Hellmayr. Verb, zool.-bot. Gesellsch. in Wien, 

 1904, p. 616.] 



We are glad to understand that Herr Hellmayr has in 

 preparation a general review of the Brazilian Ornis, which 

 will be a very useful piece of work. As a contribution 

 thereto we have before us a paper on some of the Fringillidse 

 of Brazil, which is of much value, although, in our opinion, 

 all changes in established nomenclature should be deprecated 

 unless absolutely necessary. 



The unfortunate Amaurospiza mcesta is clearly shewn to 

 have received four different names from four different autho- 

 rities. We may hope that the proper appellation of this 

 rare Finch is now finally settled. 



The rest of Mr. Hellmayr's paper is taken up with remarks 

 on the Brazilian species of Spermophila, or, as the author, 



