1 91 8.] Recently piihlished Ornithological Works. 505 



the two former cannot possibly be ''realities/' though they 

 possibly are. In conclusion, the views propounded, while 

 worthy of consideration, must meet with little acceptance 

 until confirmed by examination of material — an item lacking 

 in the review noticed. T. I. 



Macoun on the Birds of Canada. 



[Catalogue des Oiseaux du Canada. Par John Macoun et James 

 M. Macoun. Pp. xii+909. Ottawa (Imp. du Gouv.), 1915. 8vo.] 



This well-known work was first published in 1909, and was 

 noticed in our pages (Ibis, 1910, p. 556). The present edition 

 is a French translation of the original one^ without any further 

 additions. It seems a great pity that the opportunity of cor- 

 recting and adding to the former edition should not have been 

 made use of, as a good deal of work on Canadian ornithology 

 has been done since 1909 ; still we hope the present volume 

 will be found useful to the French-speaking inhabitants of 

 Canada, and that a new edition of this valuable work will be 

 undertaken before many years have elapsed. 



Mathews on Australian Birds. 



[The Bh-ds of Australia. By Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. vii. pt. 1, 

 pp. 1-112, pis. 225-234. London (Witherby), March 1918.] 



In this part the author introduces us to what are com- 

 monly known as Picarian Birds, beginning with his Orders, 

 PoDAiiGiFORMES, Caprimulgiformes, Coraciiformes, and 

 ALCEDrNiFORMEs, which will be followed, as in Dr. Sharpens 

 Classification, by Micropodiformes, Cuculiformes, and 

 Menuriformes. It will be noticed that Sharpe only allowed 

 the groups subordinal rank, while we shall not be surprised 

 if Mr. Mathews eventually parts the abnormal Menura from 

 this alliance. 



The names of the Families follow those of the Orders, 

 except that a second family, ^gothelid?e, is recognized under 

 the Podargiue assemblage, and another, Dacelonidae, under 

 the Kingfishers. In regard to genera, Podargus auctt. is split 

 into three, viz. Megapodargus [Jov papuensis), Podargus {iov 



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