582 Btbh'ographical Notice. 



from Sattelberg, which agrees well with Ilyla imjmra as 

 described bj Mehely (Termeszetr. Fuzetek. 1898). 



The herpetology indicates, as other branches of zoology, 

 the mixed origin of the fauna of Papuasia. There are ancient 

 forms, such as Geckonidfe, Typhlopida3, and Boidae, the 

 members of which have liad time to become widely distributed, 

 cosmopolitan so far as the climatical conditions allow it. 

 Others originating from Asia reach their extreme limit, in a 

 south-easterly direction, in Papuasia (and Australia), as, for 

 instance, Dendrophis, Dipsadomorphics, Tropidonotus *, and 

 Ranidae. Another group has reached New Guinea from Aus- 

 tralia, and there become checked from further distribution : 

 Ilylidge is typical in this respect. This family, being chiefly f 

 Australian and South- American, has extended from the latter 

 to North America, and from there to Eurasia, as its distri- 

 bution clearly shows. This family is thus a typical repre- 

 sentative of Australia in the fauna of Papuasia. But the great 

 number of endemic genera and species in the herpetological 

 fauna of Papuasia indicates its long isolation. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 



The Story of Bird-life. By W. P. Ptcraft. 

 London : George 2s^ewnes, Ltd., 1900. Pp. 244. 



This recent addition to the " Library of Useful Stories " is by a 

 rising ornithologist whose name is well known to specialists by 

 the admirable work which he is doing in the physiology and com- 

 parative anatomy of birds. We believe that this is about his first 

 appearance before the general public, and we hope it will not be the 

 last, for he has succeeded in compressiug a large amount of useful 

 elementarj- information respecting birds, much of which is not 

 easily accessible in a couvenient form elsewhere, into a very 

 moderate compass. The structure of birds, especially of the wings 

 and feathers, their courtship, nests, migration, geographical distri- 

 bution, pedigrees, &c. are discussed in an easy and attractive style 

 in twelve chapters. There is also a series of text-illustrations, 

 among others a restoration of Archceopteryx, and two full-page 

 illustrations, " The summer home of the Ruff and Reeve " and " The 

 love-display, or ' showing off,'* of the Great Bustard, Otis tarda." 

 Those interested in the latter subject will find a beautiful group of 

 Great Bustards in the Ornithological Gallery of the Natural History 

 Museum at South Kensington. We congratulate Mr. Pycraft on 

 the production of this interesting little book, for it is not every 

 fpeciaUst who is able to write successfully and popularly on his 

 subject, as well as scientifically. W. F. K. 



* The two former perhaps on driftwood or by the agency of man, the 

 last by swimming. 



t Like Cystignathidw. 



