Recently published Ornithological Works. 565 



tingeut^' (9). '^ Subtropic," it may be remarked — a term 

 repeatedly used by Mr. Seebohm — would be better written, 

 we think, " subtropical/' " Eurasian " is also a detestable 

 compound, especially when we have the more convenient and 

 correctly-formed term '' Palpearctic " available. We quite 

 agree with Mr. Seebohm that trinomials are in some cases cor- 

 rectly used, i. e. when two geographical forms are connected by 

 a series of intermediate phases. But in such cases it is, in our 

 opinion, better to add to the earliest-named form, as a third 

 term, the subspecific name typicus, so as to put it exactly 

 on a par with parallel subspecies. Thus the Common Cross- 

 bill should be designated " Loxia curvirostra typica," as 

 distinguished from the Parrot Crossbill, " L. c. pjityopsit- 

 taciisj" whilst " Loxia curvirostra" would include both 

 forms. 



97. Sharpens Handbook to the Birds of Great Britain. 



[Allen's Naturalist's Library. Edited bj K. Bowdler Sbarpe, LL.D., 

 F.L.S., &c. — A ETandbook to the Birds of Great Britain. By R. Bowdler 

 Sharpe, LL.D., Zoological Department, British Museum. Vol. I. 

 London : W. H. Allen & Co. 1894.] 



It Avas necessary, we suppose, that the new '^Naturalist's 

 Library''' should comprise a book on British Birds. Mr. 

 Howard Saunders having very prudently declined to prepare a 

 rival to his own excellent ' Manual,' it fell to the lot of the 

 editor of the new undertaking to meet the deficiency. This 

 serious task he has commenced in the present volume, and, 

 so far as it is possible to surmount the proverbial difficulty 

 of putting new wine into old bottles, we may well compli- 

 ment him on the result. We cannot truly say that we 

 appreciate the old steel plates, products of a bygone age, 

 now revived. Some of the figures (see the Nightingale, 

 plate xxiii.) are barely recognizable. In this we are sure we 

 shall have the full sympathy of the author, who must sigh 

 after Keulemans every time that he looks at the volume. 

 The letterpress, however, the real test of the work, is well 

 put together, and, so far as we may presume to judge, correct. 

 But what else could be expected from one of our leading 



