212 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



This little Parrot is hardly larger than the members of the 

 genus Psit taenia, females of which it at first sight resembles. 

 The nostril, however, is placed in the middle of a distinct 

 cere, showing its relationship to Brotogerys. 



Mr. Whitely obtained several specimens of this bird, Avhich 

 have passed into the hands of ourselves, Mr. Sclater, and 

 Count H. V. Berlepsch ; and we all, I believe, agree in con- 

 sidering it undescribed. 



COLUMBA RUFINA. 



The examination of a young bird of this species from Bar- 

 tica Grove suggests to us that Mr. Lawrence's Melopelia plum- 

 bescens (Ibis, 1880, p. 238) may be C. rufina in its first plu- 

 mage. There are some discrepancies between our bii'd and 

 Mr. Lawrence's description, chiefly as regards the coloiiy of 

 the top of the head, which has a rufous tinge in oiir speci- 

 men, instead of being whitish ash. As this may arise from 

 our skin being that of a rather youjig^f bird than Mr. Law- 

 rence's type, and as in otlaei' respects the two agree very 

 closely, we are stronglybf opinion that Melopelia plumbescens 

 must be placed as a synonym of Columba rufina. 



XXV. — Notices of recent Ornithological Publications. 



(Continued from p. 118.) 



49. Blasius and Nehrkorn on Birds from Amboina. 



[Dr. Platen's ornithologisclie Sammlungen aus Amboina, verzeiclinet 

 und besprocheu von Willi. Blasius und Ad. Nehrkorn. Verb, der k. k, 

 zool.-bot. GeseU. Wien, 1882, p. 411.] 



Dr. Platen's Amboina collections made in 1881 and 1882 

 contained 138 skins, referable to 43 species, of which an 

 account is here given. Three species (Myzomela boiei, A?'- 

 detta flavicollis, and Sterna nigra) are new to the Amboinan 

 avifauna. The nests and eggs of many species are described. 

 Tanysiptera dea bores its holes in ants' nests which are placed 

 in the trees, and deposits two shining white eggs. 



