508 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



with horsehair." Now we suppose he is here referring to Alauda 

 arvensis — emphatically the Lark of this country ; and we can only 

 say that if we had found such a nest, we should have been ex- 

 ceedingly surprised at learning that it belonged to a Sky-Lark. 

 Again, according to Mr. Wallace (p. 229), the Golden-crested 

 Wren, in exposed situations, builds " a perfect domed nest with 

 a side entrance," which is something we have never seen 'and 

 certainly never expect to see from this bird. Once more, had our 

 author ever examined the nest of a Waxwing, and traversed the 

 northern forests wherein it breeds — which we suppose he has 

 not, we think he would not have talked (pp. 255, 256) of the 

 harmony of the colours of the bird^s plumage and of the black 

 or iron-grey lichens which compose or bedeck its nest. These, 

 no doubt, effectually help to conceal it from hostile eyes ; but we 

 feel sure that there is nothing in the material of the structure 

 or the surrounding vegetation that at all resembles the brighter 

 colours of the occupant. So much of what is advanced in Mr. 

 Wallace's " Philosophy " and " Theory of Birds' Nests " is un- 

 deniably true, that we the more regret his calling into court evi- 

 dence which can be shown to be untrustworthy ; for such cannot 

 fail to deteriorate the effect of that which is to be unreservedly 

 believed, and his case generally is far too strong to require the aid 

 of doubtful testimony. We say thus much without pledging our- 

 selves to the full acceptance of his views as set forth in the Sixth 

 and Seventh Essays. Ably and fairly as he argues, we think 

 there is a good deal to be brought forward on the other side, 

 and for ourselves we should prefer suspending our judgment on 

 the questions involved. 



Mr. Morrell's pamphlet* is a well-directed attempt at laying 

 before beginners Prof. Huxley's system of classification of Birds, 

 with which our readers are suflBciently acquainted {cf. Ibis, 

 1868, pp. 85, 357), though the public generally is not; but 

 all except the osteological characters therein given are omitted, 



* The Student's Manual of Comparative Anatomy, and Guide to Dis- 

 section, &c. Part II. Saiiropsidce. Section I. Aves. By G. Herbert 

 MoKRELL, M.A., B.C.L., Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy and Phy- 

 siology in the University Museum, Oxford. Oxford : [1870.] 8vo, pp. 7o. 



