778 Recently published ()r>iithological Works. [Ibis, 



founded on the same type. Cutkarista as used by Sliarpe 

 and our author should be replaced by Coragyps. 



There are several other errors in generic nomenclature 

 which we could point out : — Pseudoyryphus Ridgw. 1874 is 

 antedated by Gymnoyyps Lesson 1842 ; Seiyentarius Cuv. 

 1798 by Sayittarius Herman 1783 ; Polyborides Smith by 

 Gymnogenys Lesson ; Torgos Kaup is spelt Jorgos. 



The list of described species appears to have been most 

 carefully compiled and will douljtless be most useful to all 

 workers in systematic ornithology, and we shall look forward 

 with interest to see the completion of the work. 



British Birds. 



[British Birds, -with wliicli is incorporated 'The Zoologist.' Vol. xii. 

 June 1918-May 1919.] 



Owing to the absence of Mr. Witherby at Dunkerque, 

 where he was serving with the naval forces during the latter 

 part of the year, the last volume of 'British Eiids' was 

 edited by Mr. Jourdain. It contains many contributions of 

 permanent value, among which should be noted the four 

 concluding i)arts of Miss Jackson^s " Moults and sequence of 

 plumages of the British Waders " ; our only regret is that 

 Miss Jackson has not extended her observations beyond the 

 narrow limits of the British list, as it is only by doing so 

 that valuable general conclusions can be reached. 



A novel observation by Mr. D. Macintyre is that the 

 Curlew when shedding tlie lining of the gizzard also gets 

 rid of the grit contained in it at the same time. Other birds 

 get rid of the gizzard grit periodically in their castings or 

 their droppings, and theie seems a good deal of variation in 

 this respect. 



The chief nesting-place of the Great Skua in the British 

 Isles has long been known to be on certain islands of the 

 Shetland group. Through the observations of some naval 

 officers attached to the Grand Fleet, the known breeding- 

 range of this interesting bird has now been extended to a 

 locality in the Orkneys as well. Mr. Jourdain, who writes 

 on the mattei' from information transmitted to him, wisely 



