Recently published Ornithological Works. 155 



15. Huber on the Materials of the Nest of Ostinops decu- 

 manus. 



[Sobre os materiales do ninho do Japu {Ostinops decumanus). Por 

 Dr. J. Hubeit Bol. Mus. Paraense, vol. iii. p. -328 (1902).] 



This is the paper alluded to by Dr. Goeldi in his letter 

 published iu the last number of our Journal {' Ibis/ 1903, 

 p. 632), in which the material used by the Great Cacique 

 (Ostinops decumanus) in building its nest was shown to be a 

 rhizomorph of the genus Marasmius, and not the fibre of 

 Tillandsia usneoides. The structural differences between 

 these two vegetable substances are fully pointed out and 

 figured. 



16. w Irish Naturalist.* 



[The Irish Naturalist. A Monthly Journal of General Irish Natural 

 History. Edited by G. II. Carpenter, R. L. Praeger, and Robert 

 Patterson. Vol. xii. Nos. 1-12. Eason & Sons, Dublin.] 



The ornithological feature of the volume for 1903 is Mr. 

 E. Williams's paper on the breeding of the Red-necked 

 Phalarope in the west of Ireland, with an illustration of the 

 adult and young birds. The locality is kept secret, but 

 inasmuch as a Government official has given an open order 

 for Irish eggs of the Red-throated Diver, there is little 

 chance of the Phalarope escaping for long. This species 

 was not known even as a visitor to Ireland before 1891 ; 

 and on its breeding-history and migrations Mr. J. A. Harvie- 

 Brown contributes an interesting paper (p. 96). It is sad, 

 but not at all surprising, to learn from Mr. Robert Warren 

 of the neglected condition of the valuable collection of 

 Irish birds bequeathed to Queen's College, Cork, by the late 

 Dr. J. R. Harvey. Mr. C. B. Moffat moots a new theory, 

 which conflicts to a considerable extent with the views of 

 Darwin. The author enters upon an enquiry into the reason 

 of different species which breed in a particular district not 

 shewing any perceptible increase in numbers from year to 

 year; and he attributes the fact rather to lack of space than 

 to mortality among individuals. He thinks that there may 

 be more " bachelors " and " old maids " among birds than is 



