Recently published Ornithological Works. 443 



Ambhjornis subalaris are^ in various ways, among the most 

 wonderful and attractive objects nature has produced. 



We are glad to see Dr. Sharpe has agreed to our views in 

 considering the names Paradisea wilsoni and Lophorina 

 respublica as synonymous, but we think that the latter name, 

 even if certainly prior in date, should be cancelled altogether, 

 the characters assigned to the term by Bonaparte being quite 

 unrecognizable and misleading. 



The following species are figured : — 



Ptilorhis victorise. Manucodia comrii. 



Epimachus speciosus. Phonygama purpureo-violacea. 



Astrarcliia stephanige. ^kircedus viridis. 



Paradisea augustfe-Tictorife. Clilamydodera occipitalia. 



Schlegelia respublica. Amblyornis subalaris. 



QQ. Sharpe on the Fulicarise and Alectorides. 



[Catalogue of the Fulicaria3 (Rallida? and Heliornithida^) and Alec- 

 torides (Aramida), Eurypygidfe, Mesitidfe, Rhinocbetida3, Gruidie, Pso- 

 phiidse, and Otididee) in the Collection of the British Museum. By R. 

 Bowdler Sharpe. London, 1894.] 



The Rails, Cranes, Bustards, and their allied forms consti- 

 tute the subject of the twenty-third volume of the Catalogue 

 of Birds, which we are much pleased to see before us. Fol- 

 lowing very nearly the arrangement proposed for these birds 

 by the Editor of 'The Ibis' {op. cit. 1880, p. 408), Dr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe locates them in two Orders — Fulicarise and Alecto- 

 rides. In the former are placed the two families Rallidaj 

 and Heliornithidse, in the latter the seven families Aramidse, 

 Eurypygidse, Mesitidae, Rhinochetidce, Gruidae, Psophiidse, 

 and Otididte. To these, in our opinion, should be added the 

 Cariamidse, which Dr. Sharpe has catalogued among the 

 Falconidse (Cat. Birds, i. p. 42). These nine families are 

 represented in the National Collection by 2947 specimens, 

 which are referred to 252 species, 29 of these being con- 

 sidered as only of subspecific rank. Besides these a number 

 of fossil species are mentioned in what are believed to be their 

 proper places. 



The great family Rallid?e, which heads the volume with 



2h 2 



