272 JRecent Ornithological Puhlications. 



the Breast-bone of Birds. This contains materials that may be 

 made something of by systematists; but the author's researches 

 so far do not seem to have led him to any very practical results. 

 He considers that five distinct forms of sternum are found in 

 the class, which is, if an obvious, certainly an arbitrary way of 

 grouping their possessors, since it brings into the same cate- 

 gory the Gallina and Passeres. We trust, however, that the 

 author may continue his inquiries, and in pai-ticular not lay 

 such great stress on the shape of the posterior extremity of the 

 bone, which is often, even in members of the same natural 

 family, so much modified as to show that it cannot be regarded 

 as offering sure ground for classification [cf. Phil. Trans. 1869, 

 p. 337, note ) ; but on this subject w^e hope before long to have 

 something more to say for ourselves. 



In the last volume of * The Ibis^ (p. 113) we gave an account of 

 Herr von Pelzeln^s very important work^, and of the circum- 

 stances under which it was undertaken. The third part, which 

 is now before us, continues and completes the catalogue of the 

 birds collected by Natterer, and the description of the new 

 species. Commencing with the Conirostres, it passes on to the 

 Scarisores, and concludes with the Columbce, Gallince, Grallee, 

 and Anseres. Nineteen species of these groups are described as 

 new, among which are two Tanagers [Eiiphonia ochrascens and 

 Tachyphonus nattereri), four species of Picumnus, and two of 

 Crax. After the conclusion of the general list, the author gives 

 us a most interesting essay upon the ornithic fauna of Brazil, 

 as exhibited by Natterer's discoveries. He begins by dividing- 

 South America ornithologically into four subregious, which are 

 further shown in a map attached. These are : — 



1. The Columbian Subregion, embracing Trinidad, Northern 

 Venezuela, New Granada, and the western portions of Peru, 

 Ecuador, and Bolivia. 



2. The Amazonian Subregion, containing Guiana and the 

 whole area drained by the Amazons and its affluents. 



* Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens. Resultate von Johann Natterer's Reisen 

 in den Jahren, 1817 bis 1835. Dargestellt von August von Pelzeln, 

 III. Abtheilunff. Wien: 1870. 



