564 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



100. Dalgleish on the Petrels of Madeira. 



[Notes on tlie Petrels of Madeira and adjoining Seas. By J. J. 

 Dalgleish, M.B.O.U. Proc. E. Physical Soc. Ediab. xi. p. 27.] 



Mr. Dalgleisli gives a resume of the present state o£ our 

 knowledge of the Petrels of the Macleiran Seas, which resort 

 to the island-groups of Porto Santo and the Desertas for 

 breeding-purposes. They are of six species at least, namely, 

 Puffinus kuhli, P. obscurus, P. anglorum, Buhveria colnmbina^ 

 Procellaria leucorrhoa, and CEstrelata mollis, of all of which 

 eggs have been obtained. Besides these, Procellaria pelagica, 

 Oceanites oceanicus, and Pelogodroma marina * are stated to 

 have been observed " off Madeira. ^^ 



It would, moreover, seem certain from what Mr. Grant 

 tells us (Ibis, 1891, p. 409) that Puffinus assimilis is also 

 found on the Desertas, whether nesting or not is as yet 

 uncertain. Mr. Salvin assures us that the late Mr. Harcourt 

 was wrong {cf. Ibis, 1891, p. 627) in following Yarrell, as to 

 the identity of P. assimilis with P. obscurus. These two 

 species are quite distinct. 



101. Elliot on "Acquired Characters." 



[The lulieritance of Acquired Characters. President's Address 

 delivered at the Annual Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, 

 New York, Nov. 18, 1891. By D. G. Elliot. Auk, ix. j). 77.J 



Mr. Elliot addresses his colleagues of the American Orni- 

 thologists' Union on the inheritance of acquired characters 

 in a very sensible way. He points out some of the many 

 difficulties that the reception of this new dogma would involve, 

 and begs for further investigations and experiments that may 

 throw more light upon this obscure question. 



102. Forbes oti Avian Rem,ains from Timaru. 



[On Avian Remains found under a Lava-flow near Timaru, in Can- 

 terbury. By II. 0. Forbes. Trans. New Zealand Inst. 1890, p. 366.] 



Mr. Forbes describes some remains of birds lately found 

 in loess covered by a lava-stream near Timaru, in the province 



* On this species cf. Macphersoii, Ibis, 1891, p. 602. 



