228 Recent Ornithological Publications. 



commented, is referred by Herr Finsch to Anthoch^ra ; but as 

 Mr. Buller's specific name is already occupied by an Australian 

 species of that genus, Herr Finsch proposes to call the New- 

 Zealand bird A. bulleri. 



It behoves us to mention that our excellent and much esteemed 

 contemporary the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' has entered upon 

 a second Series with the present year. We accordingly make 

 our compliments to its learned editor and all who are concerned 

 in conducting it on this auspicious event, and wish their " Neue 

 Folge " all the success it so highly deserves. We can with great 

 pleasure look back on the amity which has always prevailed 

 between Dr. Cabanis's ' Journal ' and ' The Ibis ;' in neither 

 publication will be found a single word derogating from the 

 other. That this good feeling will continue there can be no 

 reason to doubt. We are very glad to find that it is intended 

 to publish a full index to the fifteen volumes of the old Series ; 

 this alone was wanting in order that the very great value of the 

 information they contain might be thoroughly appreciated. 



After a very minute and elaborate examination of the egg- 

 shells of various birds, Herr Rudolf Blasius comes to the con- 

 clusion that in respect to these productions the microscope 

 afibrds little, if any, sure help to classification. The layers of 

 which the shell is composed vary ; and especially is this the case 

 with the main layer (Kernschicht) which varies in the same 

 egg even; oologists therefore cannot expect histology will do 

 much for them. Nevertheless, if any there be who think other- 

 wise, we recommend them to study this gentleman's little work*, 

 on which he appears to have bestowed great pains, and, we can 

 only regret, with a result so little satisfactory. The author sets 

 a very good example with regard to the bibliography of his 

 subject, as copious lists of writers who have before treated it are 

 furnished ; indeed it was in consequence of the investigations of 

 one of them. Dr. Landois (c/, Rec. Zool. Lit. ii. pp.85, 86), that 



* Ueber die Bildung, Structur und systematische Bedeutung der 

 Eischaale der Vogel. Von Eudolf Blasics. Leipzig: 1867. 8vo, 

 pp. 48. 



