Recent Ornithological Publications. 121 



ment which was made on the last occasion of this beautiful 

 work being noticed in these pages (Ibis, 1869, pp. 108, 109). 

 Mr. Gould was then blamed for having omitted any reference to 

 a passage in the work of an old author containing some informa- 

 tion with respect to the Spoonbill. This was altogether wrong, 

 for the information in question was duly and appropriately cited, 

 and we have unreservedly to tender our apologies to Mr. Gould 

 for having permitted a charge so entirely unfounded to be made. 



Since we last noticed (Ibis, 1869, pp. 215, 216) Mr. Sharpens 

 'Kingfishers'^, three more parts of it have appeared, in every 

 way equal to their predecessors. By accident we, on a former 

 occasion, stated that each part contained "six" plates, we should 

 have said eight ; and they are all very successful examples of Mr. 

 Keulemans's handiwork. The author, as appears by a recent 

 communication (Nov. 11, 1869) of his to the Zoological Society, 

 was wrong in assigning the name Corythornis vintsioides (Eyd. & 

 Gerv.) to the Madagascar species of that genus, which seems to 

 be the true Alcedo cristata of Linnseus. Dr. Pucheran's argu- 

 ment (R. Z. 1861, pp. 337-341) seems to be unanswerable on 

 this point; and if so, the common species of the African con- 

 tinent must bear the name of C. cyanostigma (lliipp.) instead of 

 C. cristata. Dacelofallax, Schlegel, has been considered by Dr. 

 Salvadori, in a paper to be noticed presently, entitled to generic 

 separation, on account of its connecting the genera Ceyx and Ispi- 

 dina; and, accordingly, it is here figured under the name of Cey- 

 copsisfallax. Halcyon cyanoleuca, from Angola, is recognized as 

 distinct from H. senegalensis. Though according a place in his 

 letterpress to Ceryle lugubris, Mr. Sharpe is no doubt right in 

 not deeming it worth a figure, so closely does it resemble C. 

 guttata ; on the otner hand, the C. sharpii lately described by Mr. 

 Gould (Ann. & Mag. N. H. 4th ser. iv. p. 271) seems to be as 

 certainly a good species, and will bear the name of the ardent hal- 

 cyonologist whose work we are noticing. It is very gratifying to 

 observe that the custodians of the Museums of Basle and Berlin 



* A Monograph of the Alcedinidw or Kingfishers, by R. B. Sharpe. 

 Part iv. March 1st, 1869; Part v. July 1st, 1869; Part vi. October 6th, 

 1869. London: roy. 8vo. 



