134 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



17. Ryder on the Form of the Fowl's Egg. 



[On the Mechanical Genesis of the Form of the Fowl's Egg. By John 

 A. Ryder. Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. xxxi. p. 208 (1893).] 



Mr. Uyder discusses the origin of the form of the hen^s 

 €^^, which is '^ apparently determined by mechanical means, 

 while the egg-membranes and shell are in process of forma- 

 tion within the oviduct. ^^ He considers the development of 

 the figure to be " in all probability a purely dynamical pro- 

 blem,'^ and endeavours to show how the variations are 

 produced. 



18. Seloiis on Mashunaland and its Birds. 



[Travel and Adventure in South-east Africa. By F. C. Selous, 

 C.M.Z.S. London : Rowland Ward & Co., 189-3.] 



]\lr. Selous is best known to us as a mighty hunter of the 

 larger mammals^ and as author of some excellent field- notes 

 on their habits and distribution*. But those who read the 

 interesting narrative contained in the present volume will 

 see that he is also an accurate observer of the habits of birds. 

 In August 1882 he records the occurrence of Coracias spatu- 

 latus, Trimen, at JVIanyanga^s, on the Upper Zambezi [op, cit. 

 p. 48) . In the same district he comments on the appearance 

 of Gallirex porphyreolophus and several Kingfishers. Lower 

 down on the Zambezi near Zumbo, ]\Ir. Selous [pp. cit. 

 p. 64) met with a " flock of Parroquets or JVtouse-birds/' of 

 a species unknown to hira. They were of '' a pale green 

 colour, with rose-coloured heads and long tails."* He had 

 seen the same birds on the Kafukwe river once before. 

 IVIr. Selous also tells us the following curious story respecting 

 a small Owl and a chameleon : — 



" Whilst waiting for the horses I took a stroll along the 

 footpath towards Seskeki with my butterfly-net, and as I 

 was walking slowly along saw, sitting on a patch of bare 

 ground beneath a thorn-tree and not ten yards from me, a 

 very small Owl, of a species which I know well, though I am 

 unacquainted with its Latin name. Surprised at its tame- 

 ness, I walked towards it, but it did not move until I was 

 * See liis articles in P. Z. S. 1881 and 1883. 



