136 Recently published Ornithological Works. [Ibis, 



and sent to the Zoological Museum at Christiania. Only a 

 few of the more interesting specimens are dealt with, and 

 amons: these are two new forms — Astur tachiro tenebrosus, 

 possibly a melanism or possibly a constant local race in- 

 habiting dark forest, and Zosterops bayeri, allied to 

 Z.Jacksoni Neum. 



Lord on Tasmanian Birds. 



[A Descriptive List of the Birds of Tasmania and adjacent Islands. 

 By Olive E. Lord. Pp. 1-48. Hobart (Walch & Sons), 1917.] 



This little pocket-book appears to be a most practical 

 work for the outdoor naturalist. Every Tasmanian species 

 is listed with a short description, the approximate length of 

 the bird is given (perhaps the length of the wing would have 

 been better), and the number of the eggs, their colour and 

 when laid, all contained in about six lines, a wonderful work 

 of compression. 



The classification and nomenclature are those of Mr. 

 Mathews, and although technical terms have been avoided 

 care has been taken to make the list as complete as possible. 



A list of British Birds drawn up on similar lines would 

 be most useful. 



Mathews on Australian Birds. 



[The Birds of Australia. By Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. vii. pt. iii. 

 pp. 217-320, pis. 243-251. London (Witherby) : August 1918.] 



In this part we have a large amount of exceptionally 

 interesting notes on the life-histories of the various species, 

 many of which are uncommon or at least little known. 

 The author continues the Caprimulgine birds with Eurosto- 

 podus and Rossornis, while he suggests that the absence of 

 the long rictal bristles in the former shews arrested deve- 

 lopment, as compared with Caprimulgus. Two species are 

 recognised — E. mystacalis (= E. albiyularis Vig. & Horsf.) 

 and E. guttatus {= E. argus Hartert), but no subspecies for 

 the present. Rossornis is a new genus for the long-tailed, 

 golden-hued C. macrurus Horsf.; Eximiornis is similai'ly 

 proposed for C. eximiusTemm. There follows a long disser- 



