1922.] Recently published Ornithological Works. 



70r, 



rediscovered ; it has not been seen for twenty years, when 

 IMearns obtained a few examples. The rai'e and remarkable 

 Malindangia macgregori Mearns, discovered by the describer 

 on Mt. Malindang in Mindanao, is figured in colour. 

 Mr. McGregor believes that there are still a good many 

 new discoveries to be made by the diligent collector in the 

 Philippine Archipelago. 



Mathews un Australian Birds. 



[The Bh-ds of Australia. By Gregory M. Mathews. Vol. ix.pt. 8, 

 pp. 361-416, pis. 443-448 & 481. London (Witherby), May l!)L>2.] 



The concluding pages on the Australian Reed-warbler 

 adhere to the previously })ublished five subspecies, and 

 reinstate mellori for inexpectatus, Gould's species longirostris 

 now taking the lower rank. 



The generic titles of the three Grass-birds or Grass- 

 warblers give no fresh trouble, nor does Mr. Matiiews 

 depart from his former conclusions as to the species ; but 

 two new subspecies are introduced under Cisticola exilis 

 (diminuta of North Queensland and exaggerata of Victoria 

 and South Australia) ; milligani is substituted for striatus 

 under t^oodytes gramuieus; wliile under Dulciornis alisteri 

 we are again warned that its former name of galactotes 

 V. and H. is untenable, owing to a prior use in the 

 ' Planches coloriees.' In each genus only one species is 

 recognized for Australia, though Sharpe was wrong in placing 

 under this genus forms reaching from Burma to China. 

 They compose a very interesting group of little ground-birds, 

 found in scrubby places, with a preference for marshy spots ; 

 and, though by no means flightless, are difficult to flush or 

 observe, only flitting for short distances with drooping and 

 expanded tail. They are all variable in plumage, and 

 Cisticola at least is " seasonally dimorphic.'' 



The next three birds, figured on one plate, are of such 

 importance that we must refer the reader to Mr. Mathews's 

 pages for full details of their life-histories. Literary history 

 they have little or none. First, we have the Desert or 

 Spinifex Bird, discovered by Carter in 1898 in the west, and 



