118 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



The Seventh Part contains a figure and description of a new 

 Owl, Strix walleri, allied to S. delicatula, but much larger, of 

 which Mr. Diggles says : — 



" This fine new species of Owl is now figured for the first 

 time ; and it is with much pleasure I name it after the discoverer, 

 Mr. Eli Waller, of Brisbane, to whose large and valuable collection 

 I am so much indebted for most of my figures, and to whose 

 scientific and extensive practical knowledge of the birds of Austra- 

 lia, and energy and perseverance as a collector, I am happy to 

 bear testimony. It does not often happen in a country so well 

 searched as Australia, since the visit of Mr. Gould in the years 

 1838, ^39, '40, that so important and interesting a bird as the pre- 

 sent is brought to light ; and the fact of this new species having 

 been shot in the immediate neighboiu-hood of Brisbane, may serve 

 to encourage others interested in the study of ornithology (more 

 especially in the newly settled districts, where novelties are 

 mostly to be looked for) to endeavour to add their contributions 

 to the very numerous and interesting fauna of their adopted 

 country. Two specimens (a male and female) are in Mr. Wal- 

 ler's collection." 



Concerning that rare species Falco subniger, Mr. Diggles adds 

 somewhat to our information. Mr. White and others have 

 obtained specimens in South Australia, and Mr. Waller has 

 shot one near Brisbane. This last gentleman subsequently saw 

 another chased by a Haliastur sphenurus, which drove it ofi". 



Mr. Diggles's undertaking deserves every encouragement. 

 The parts of the work are published monthly, and cost only ten 

 shillings each : their number, he believes, will not much exceed 

 forty ; we trust that of his subscribers will be many times as large. 



XI. — Letters, Announcements , ^c. 



We have received the following letters addressed "To the 

 Editor of 'The Ibis.' " :— 



Dobroyde, May 20, 1867. 

 Sir, — I have lately shot adults and young of Pardalotus 

 affinis, var., with a deep orange or red spot on the spurious wing. 

 Both young and old bu'ds have exactly the same coloured spot. 



