736 Recently published Ornithological Worki. [Ibis, 



The former of these two societies was founded in 1904, 

 and has issued twenty-two numbers of its Journal and three 

 of its Bulletin. Owing to the war the Union has lost a 

 number of its members and it became increasingly difficult 

 to carry on the journal ; Mr. Haagner, therefore, who has 

 been the leading spirit of the Union since its foundation, 

 proposed to join with the Transvaal Biological Society, which 

 had also been in existence for some years, in forming a 

 new and stronger society with a wider scope to advance the 

 study of biology and natural history in South Africa. This 

 was eflfected in June 1916, and the first number of the new 

 journal is now before us. It consists of 122 pages and is 

 illustrated with 6 plates in black and white; it is edited by 

 Messrs. A. K. Haagner, I. B, Pole Evans, and Claude Fuller. 



Among papers dealing with ornithological subjects is one 

 by Lieut. C. G. Fiuch-Davies, M.B.O.U., on birds collected 

 and observed in the two districts of Okanjande and Outjo of 

 the new South-west African Protectorate. But few English 

 have collected in this former German colony since the times 

 of Andersson and Eriksson, whose work indeed was com- 

 pleted before the German annexation, but a certMin number 

 of new forms have been described by Reichenow and other 

 German naturalists. Mr. Finch-Davies' list contains the 

 names of 147 species, two of which appear to be new to 

 the South African fauna — Francolinus hartlauhi (about 

 which, however, see Sclater, Bull. B. O. C. xxxvii. 1917, 

 p. 40) and Vinago calva nudirostris. Another interesting bird 

 which was found abundantly was the curious Lanioturdus 

 torquatus of very uncertain affinities, but which is almost 

 certainly not a Flycatcher. It would be most interesting 

 to have an example for anatomical examination. 



Mr. Swynnerton sends some stray notes on the habits of 

 Nightjars, asking why they settle on the ground and why they 

 have so noiseless a flight. He has also recently come across 

 a large flock of Pelicans {Pelecanus roseus) near Chirinda in 

 Southern Rhodesia, a very long distance away from the sea 

 or a large body of water — an unusual occurrence. 



The third bird-paper is by Mr. R. Godfrey and relates 



