G48 Recently published Ornith(jh(jicul Wurhs. 



The curious structure of the clavicles, unique among birds, 

 is figured on the plate. The symphysis of the two bones is 

 enlarged and hollowed into a pouch-like structure, compared 

 by the author to the labellum of an orchid. Into this pouch 

 a loop of the greatly elongated trachea is fitted. 



The second paper deals with an interesting variation or 

 mutation of Swinhoe's Pheasant, which arose suddenly 

 among some living examples of this bird kept by Prof. Ghigi 

 in 1908, and which have continued to breed in his pheasantries. 

 This race has been named by him H. dissimilis. 



Hersey on the birds of Alaska. 



[A list of the Birds observed in Alaska and north-eastern Siberia 

 during the summer of 1914. By F. Seymour Hersey. Smithson. Misc. 

 Coll. Washington, vol. Ixvi. no. 2, pp. 1-33, 1916.] 



In the summer of 1914 the author was commissioned by 

 Mr. A. C. Bent to visit Alaska to obtain data, and especially 

 ]jhotographs of nesting-birds, for his forthcoming work on 

 the " Life-Histories of North-American Birds.'' 



Leaving Seattle on May 12 he visited Unalaska and 

 Nome, and spent a month at the mouth of the Yukon river. 

 He then made an excursion to Point Barrow and back, 

 where he met and rescued Mr. W. S. Brooks, whose journey 

 has already been noticed in our last number (^p. 502). A 

 list of the birds noted and collected is given with localities 

 and indications of their breeding-times, but the details of the 

 observations and the photographs are reserved for Mr. Bent's 

 forthcoming work. As would be expected, most of the 

 birds met with are sea- and shore-birds. Among the rarer 

 and more interesting forms are Sterna aleutica, Polysticta 

 stelleri, Sumateria spectahilis, Arquatella maritima ptilocnemis, 

 the Humming-bird Selasporus riifus, and the Swallow 

 Hirundu erythrogastra. 



Mathews on the Birds of Australia. 



[The Birds of Australia. By Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. v. pt. ?>, 

 pp. 249-352, pis. 255-266. London (Witherby), May 1916. 4to.] 



This part is comparatively easy to review, as it only 

 contains three Hawks, three Owls, and the Osprey, all well 



