224 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



belly, and a red patcli on the breast, and Nectarinia dabrii 

 (pi. XV.) belonging to the long-tailed group which contains N. 

 nipalensis, but differing from all others of it in the whitish tips 

 to the outer rectrices. The collection contained examples of 

 two other rare birds : — Hypsipetes niveiceps, Swinhoe (Ibis, 1864 

 p. 424), and Thaumalea amhejstice, a male, as all other specimens 

 of this scarce species have been (c/. Ibis, 1867, p. 371). A few 

 other articles of less importance, and a series of plates repre- 

 senting nestling birds by M. Marchand, make up the ornitholo- 

 gical portion of our contemporary's contents ; and it is certainly 

 gratifying thus to find our science once more assuming its former 

 position of importance in France. 



3. Dutch. 

 We have to mention the publication of two livraisons of the 

 long-expected work* by Prof. Schlegel and M. Pollen, on the 

 researches carried on in Madagascar by the gentleman last 

 named, and his companion M. van Dam. When the work is 

 completed we shall probably speak at greater length of it. The 

 cream of these pi-aiseworthy discoveries had previously been 

 taken off by Prof. Schlegel, in papers contributed by him to the 

 the ' Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde' (vol. iii. 

 pp. 79-89) and to our own Zoological 'Proceedings' for 1866 

 (pp. 419-426) ; we were therefore in some measure prepared for 

 what was to follow. But we find that the authors are in several 

 instances inclined to a belief in the superiority of "second 

 thoughts ;" and on reconsideration certain species of which the 

 validity was then denied are now (and as we humbly think with 

 justice) recognized. One of them is the Madagascar Kestrel, 

 described by Mr. Gurney long ago in this journal {' Ibis,' 1863, 

 pp. 34-37, pi. ii.) as being distinct equally from the Mauritian 

 Tinnunculus punctatus and the Seychelles T. gracilis, a matter 

 on which it appears to us that no person who had ever seen the 

 three forms could entertain a moment's doubt. A little more 

 reflection, and perhaps the reexamination of specimens, will, we 



* Reclierclies sur la Faune de Madagascar et de ses D^peudances, 

 d'apres les decouvertes de MM. Frangois P. L. Pollen et D. C, van Dam. 

 Mammiferes et Oiseaux par H. Schlkgel et FBANgois P. L. Pollen. 

 Leyde : 1867, Royal 8vo. (Livraisons I., II.) 



