Recently published Ornithological Works. 91 



streaked with green ; bill dark brown ; legs and feet orange- 

 yellow. Length 22 inches ; wing, from flexure, 9 ; tail 4 ; 

 culmen 22; tarsus 1*6; longest toe and claw 3*25. 



Hab. Chatham Islands (H. Travers). 



A more detailed description, together with a coloured plate, 

 of this beautiful species will appear in the forthcoming part 

 of my ' Birds of New Zealand/ 



XI. — Notices of some recently published Ornithological Books. 



In the April number of last year's volume of ' The Ibis ' we 

 gave a short account of several ornithological books then in 

 course of preparation. We now propose briefly to draw at- 

 tention to such of the promises then held out as have been 

 redeemed during the autumn of the past year. 



Captain Shelley's 'Handbook to the Birds of Egypt' * makes 

 a handsome volume in large octavo of 342 pages, illustrated 

 by fourteen coloured lithographs by Keulemans. The greater 

 portion of the work is occupied by the detailed account of the 

 birds inhabiting Egypt between the Mediterranean Sea and 

 the Second Cataract and between the Arabian and Libyan 

 deserts ; but there is also a chapter of introductory matter, 

 and some concluding remarks on birds said to occur in Egypt, 

 but apparently upon questionable grounds. Each species is 

 briefly described, and a reference given to some well-known 

 illustrated work. Want of space prevents us entering upon 

 a few critical remarks which suggest themselves; we will 

 merely add that our attention has been called to the possible 

 identity of Turdus sharpii with T. isabellinus of Bonaparte. 

 There is nothing in T. sharpii at variance with the description 

 of T. isabellinus in Bonaparte's ' Iconographie des Pigeons ; ' 

 and as to the plates in that work, we know from experience 

 how little reliance can be placed upon their accuracy. Refer- 

 ence to the type in the Berlin Museum would set the ques- 

 tion at rest. 



Mr. Gurney has also finished his task in editing and arran- 



* A Handbook to the Birds of Egypt. By G. E. Shelley, F.G.S. &c. 

 London: 1872. Large 8vo, pp. 342, 14 plates. (Van Voorst. J 



