1920.] Recenthj published Ornithological Workn. 947 



create a special family to include them along with the Pliilc- 

 })itti(ho and Xenicida?, and hints tliat other pecnliai' birds are 

 ])roved to have an equally peculiar syrinx. As Pitta versi- 

 color of Swainson antedates F. strepitans of Temminck it is 

 accepted, while P. simillvna is shown to be but one ol" three 

 subspecies. Under Erythropitta macklotii an<l Pulchripitta 

 iris subspecies are at present dropped, as these birds in each 

 case vary much. 



Everyone should read for themselves the account of the 

 curious ^/nc/jorm* (Scrub-bird) and its habits; especially 

 as it is now considered to be a degraded Passerine form 

 rather than an ally of the Lyre-bird. The nest and eggs 

 have recently been found, while the female has been dis- 

 covered since Mr. Mathcvvs^s article was written. It should 

 also be noticed that the western form, now separated from 

 the eastern^ is called by the author Rahcinta. 



The Hirundinidte are so ancient a family that almost every 

 species might constitute a separate genus, and this is cer- 

 tainly so in Australia. First there is the Welcome Swallow 

 {Hirundo neo.ve/ia), confounded of old with H.javanica and 

 its western form H. carieri. Next Cherumoeca Icncosternuni 

 with three subspecies, where the confusion of the habitats 

 has been cleared up. Thirdly, Hylochelidon nigricans and 

 Lagenoplastes uriel with five and two subspecies respectively. 



Under the family Muscicapidse we find another general 

 dissertation as to the value of the genera and consequently 

 their names ; some may have to be reduced to subgenera. 

 It seems certain that there are two series of Muscieapine 

 birds in Australui, one of which only reached the northern 

 districts. 



We cannot, of course, discuss all the species and subspecies 

 in this huge family, but may meution some of the facts 

 to which attention is specially drawn. The synonymy of 

 Micrceca fascinus is a case in point, for Latham placed it 

 under Loxia, and many authors, including Hartert, have 

 been at variance about the subspecies, of which seven are now 

 recognized, though only two are given of M. brujineicincta. 

 Kempia jiaviy aster has five subspecies, one of which is extra- 

 limital. 



