Recently published Ornithological Works. 457 



In recent birds, as is well known, more than half the 

 characterized species belong to the great Order Passeres. 

 But fossil Passeres are almost unknown. Some six pages only- 

 are devoted by Mr. Lydekker to this portion of the subject, 

 and not a single extinct genus of Passeres is included in the 

 list. On the other hand, we find nearly half the volume 

 devoted to the remains of Ratitae — an order very meagrely 

 represented in modern days, but extensively diffused in 

 former epochs. The " Imperfection of the Geological 

 Record " is, of course, partly answerable for this strong con- 

 trast ; but the Passeres are emphatically a modern and highly 

 developed group, and the Ratitse an ancient one of low 

 organization. 



Fossil birds, Mr. Lydekker tells us, are mainly kno\Tn to 

 us by more or less imperfect long-bones and coracoids, and 

 on these remains principally their osteological characters are 

 consequently based. The clearly drawn woodcuts inter- 

 spersed throughout this volume mostly relate to these frag- 

 ments, and will give much assistance to their study. One 

 of the great features of the National Collection is the grand 

 series of the remains of the Dinornithidse of New Zealand, 

 of which 22 species are embraced in the present Catalogue. 



The following new genera of fossil birds are now first 

 introduced : — 



Actiornis (Phalacrocoracidae) ; Proherodius (Ardeidse), 

 Propelargus, Amphipelargus (CiconiidEe) ; Ibidopsis (Plata- 

 leidse) ; Geranopsis (Gruidse) ; Milnea (OEdicnemidse) ; 

 yEgialornis (.-Egialornithidse) ; Pseudapteryx (Apterygidse) ; 

 Pachyornis (Dinoi'nithidse) ; Hypselornis (Casuariidae) . 



New species described in the volume are the following : — 



Strix melitensis , Pekcanus fraasi, Actiornis anglicus, Pro- 

 herodius oiveni, Propelargus cayluxensis, Amphipelargus 

 majori, Ibidupsis hordivelliensis, Elornis anglicus, Agnopterus 

 hatoniensis, Fuligula arvernensis, Columba melitensis, Palce- 

 ortyx cayluxensis, Grus hordivelliensis, Geranopsis hastingsice, 

 Otis affinis, Milnea gracilis, JEgialornis gallicus, Diomedea 

 anglica, Colymboides anglicus, Pseudapteryx gracilis, Megal- 

 apteryx tenuipes, Pachyornis immanis, Hyjjselornis sivalensis. 



