Recetitly published OrnitJwIoyical Works. 133 



lation of the notes upon its birds made by the well-known 

 naturalist v. Kittlitz, and published in 1834. UrJortunately 

 it was Kittlitz's companion -ship (the 'Senjawin'), and not 

 that in which he himself was (the 'Moller'), that visited the 

 island in 1828, so that Kittlitz's remarks upon its birds were 

 drawn up from hearsay, and are necessarily of a fragmentary 

 character. 



After the introduction we have a complete account of 

 the 27 known birds of Laysan and its adjacent islands. 

 Synonymy, descriptive characters, and particulars as to loca- 

 lity and habits are given with each species. The Passeres of 

 Laysan are only four — Acrocephalus familiaris, Himatione 

 freethi, Telespiza cantans, and T. flavissima. ]\Ir. Scott- 

 Wilson originally described Telespiza cantcms as from Mid- 

 way Island (Ibis, 1890, p. 341), but Mr. Palmer says this 

 and the allied Finch are both common in Laysan Island, and 

 that in Midway Island there are no land-birds whatever. 



Mr. Rothschild's work is splendidly illustrated by coloured 

 figures of the following species, drawn by Keulemans an.d 

 Frohawk : — 



Acrocephalus familiaris. Anous stolidus. \ 



Himatione freethi. melanogenys. I 



Telespiza cantans. hawaiiensis. 



flavissima. Puffiuus nativitatis, 



Porzanula palmeri. CEstrelata bypoleuca. 



Anas laysauensis. Diomedea cliinensis. 



Haliplana lunata. immutabilis. 



Besides these there are two coloured plates of nests and 

 eggs, and a large number of uncoloured lithographs con- 

 taining representations of scenes in Laysan, photographs of its 

 birds from life, and views of the nesting-places of the Sooty 

 and Noddy Terns, and of various Albatrosses and Petrels. 

 Altogether we have the inaugural part of a fine volume, 

 which promises well for the future usefulness of the Tring 

 Museum, whence it has proceeded, and reflects the greatest 

 credit upon its energetic author. 



