Recently published Ornithological Works. 479 



this term is confined to the Grey-Lag and two White-fronted 

 Geese, while the rest of the species generally referred to Anser 

 are placed in Buturlin's new genus " Melanonyoe" instituted 

 in 1901. Amongst these are three species — M. neglect us, 

 M. carneirustris , and M. mentalis — which seem to require 

 further study and confirmation. Altogether eight species 

 and subspecies are assigned to Melanomjx, while the Bar- 

 headed Goose (Anser indicus) is isolated as Eulabeia. We 

 cannot say that, in our opinion, sufficient reasons are given 

 for thus separating the genus Anser into several genera. 



The Brents and Bernacles, which appear to form a very 

 natural group, are treated in a similar way, and subdivided 

 into four genera — Rufibranta, Branta, Leucoblepharon, and 

 Leucopareia ; while the series terminates with Cyr/nopsis, 

 which certainly has some claims to stand apart, though we 

 should consider its affinities to be rather with Anser than 

 with the Bernacles. 



Although the multiplication of generic terms which 

 M. Alpheraky indulges in is, in our opinion, objectionable, 

 it must not be supposed that we in any way condemn the 

 whole work. The subject is evidently quite familiar to the 

 author, and under the head of every species and subspecies a 

 fund of information is afforded, much of which will be new to 

 most ornithologists. It is, however, admitted in the Preface 

 that, in spite of the large amount of material investigated 

 and the mass of literature studied, so many questions are 

 left open that the present work can only be regarded as a 

 " preparation for future investigation," which it will, no 

 doubt, greatly stimulate. 



The value of this work is further increased by the excellent 

 series of plates drawn by Mr. Frohawk. 



61. 'Annals of Scottish Natural History' 



[The Annals of Scottish Natural History. Nos. 53 & 54. January and 

 April 1905.] 



The principal ornithological feature of these two Numbers 

 is the valuable paper (in two instalments) by Mr. W. Eagle 

 Clarke, on the Birds of the Flannan Islands, or Seven 



2 k 2 



