1 9 1 8 .] Recently published Ornitholuyical Works. 1 G5 



bird. It appears to be referable to the Order Passeres, and 

 the author compares it with a Purple Grackle [Quiscalus 

 purpureus\ to which it comes near in size, but wisely does 

 not ^\ve it name as its affinities are so uncertain. 



It was found by Prof. Cutler^ of Denver University, at 

 Florissant in the Rocky Mountains, where there is a deposit 

 of oily shales from which large numbers of insects and plants 

 have been obtained and described. The beds are of late 

 tertiary age. 



White on the Bu-dlife of the South Australian coasts. 



[The Cruise of the ' Avocet ' in search of Skuas and other things. 

 By Capt. S. A. White, M.B.O.U. Pp. 1-68 ; many photos. Adelaide, 

 sm. 8vo.] 



In this booklet Captain White gives a popular account, 

 reprinted from the 'Register,' an Adelaide newspaper, of 

 several trips among tlie islands and harbours of Spencer 

 and St. Vincent Gulfs, which form two deep indentations on 

 the South Australian coasts. He was the' guest of his 

 frier\ds the Messrs. Rymills, in their motor-yacht 'Avocet.' 



Among other interesting places visited was the rookery 

 of the Mutton-bird {Neonectris tenuirostris brevicaudus) on 

 Althorpe Island, where thousands of these Petrels breed. 

 Some interesting details are given of their habits at this 

 time. 



The most important result of the voyage was perhaps 

 the taking of the Arctic Skua {^Stercorarius parasiticus) 

 for the first time in South Australian waters. It had 

 only previously been noticed in Australian waters on one 

 or two occasions. It was also proved by the examination of 

 their stomachs that the Cormorant or Shag {Hypoleucus 

 varius hypoleucus) does not consume edible fish, and should 

 not therefore be ruthlessly destroyed as has been done 

 hitherto. 



The Auk. 



[The Auk. A quarterly journal of Ornithology. Published by the 

 American Ornithologists' Union. Vol. xxxiv. for 1917.] 



The volume of the ' Auk ' for last year consists of over 



