94 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



the final part was somewhat delayed* in order to include il- 

 lustrations of the two fine discoveries by Mr. Swinhoe near 

 Ningpo, in China, which he described as Phasianus ellioti and 

 Pucrasia darwini in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological So- 

 ciety for April 1872. Mr. Elliot has spared neither pains nor 

 expense in producing this by far the best of his works, and 

 he deserves that every success should attend his enterprise. 



We spoke of the same author publishing a monograph of 

 the " Birds of Paradise." The first part f has just been issued, 

 and gives promise of being a fit companion to the Phasianidae. 

 The plates are to our eye a little wanting in brilliancy, and 

 the birds look flat ; but they of course far excel any thing of 

 the kind yet published on this family. Is it possible to de- 

 pict adequately these marvellous birds ? 



The limits of the Paradisiidce are not at present very well 

 understood, as several other groups of birds seem to approach 

 them. Mr. Elliot includes with them the Bower-birds (Chla- 

 mydoderd) ; how far he is justified in so doingremains to be seen. 



Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser continue the issue of their ( Birds 

 of Europe ' % with probably as much speed and regularity as 

 the subject will admit. Fourteen parts have now reached us ; 

 and we have every reason to hope that the undertaking will 

 be successfully carried through. The articles in some of the 

 latter parts have been treated more concisely, with, we venture 

 to think, great advantage to the work. All possible attention 

 should be paid to this important point. 



Mr. Harting has given us a useful little work§ on British 



* The date of the issue of this part is given, doubtless by an oversight, 

 as March 1872. It should have been October, in which month it really 

 saw the light. 



t A Monograph of the Paradisiidce, or Birds of Paradise. By D. G. 

 Elliot, F.L.S. &c. Published, for the Subscribers, by the Author. Part i. 



\ A Handbook of the Birds of Europe, including all the species in- 

 habiting the Western Paleearctic Region. By R. B. Sharpe, F.L.S. &c, 

 and H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S. &c. London : 4to. 



§ A Handbook of British Birds, showing the distribution of the resi- 

 dent and migratory species in the British Islands, with an Index to the 

 records of the rarer visitants. By J. E. Harting, F.L.S. &c. London : 

 1872. 8vo, pp. 198. (Van Voorst.) 



