Short JS^otices of Ornitholoii'ical Publications. 71 



regarded ! In such works, however, often the most funda- 

 mental zoolooical treatises are found. We need only instance 

 the great French encyclopaedias, in which are to be found 

 the fundaments of systematic entomology ; the " Catalogue 

 of Birds," which is the greatest work hitherto written on 

 Ornithology ; the scientific appendices to many popular books 

 on travel, and others. Besides such cases it would be very 

 difficult to draw a line between " popular and scientific " 

 works, and a decision about this question would take years, 

 and there would be continual differences of ojjinion. Until 

 all these questions were settled we should be throvv^n back 

 into chaos ! 



Probably the authors of the resolutions had meant to say, 

 that such works should be disregarded in so far as they had 

 had no influence on scientific systems ; the wording of the 

 paragraph, however, does not express this, but implies that 

 all such works had no influence on scientific systems. 



It seems to me doubtful if all those who have given their 

 support to these proposals, have properly considered what 

 they are doing. 



We are of opinion that only absolute priority can lead to 

 stability in nomenclature, and that the proposals of the 

 German Zoological Society do not inspire confidence. We, 

 therefore, protest against their acceptance, which would be 

 equal to an abandonment of the principle of priority. 



Eknst Hartert, Ph.D. 



VIII. — Short jyotices of Ornithological Publications. 



1. llie Ibis: a Quarterli/ Journal of Ornithologi/. 



April, July, and October 1912. 



The April number contains nothing of special interest to 

 South African ornithologists. There is an article on a col- 

 lection of Birds made by Mr. W. P. Lowe on the West 

 African ( /oast and outlying Islands, by D. A. Bannerman, 

 B.A. ; also a note on a^ beautiful new Shrike {Laniarius 

 mufumbiri) from the Mufumbiri Volcanoes, by Mr. W. U. 



