Recently published Ornithological Works. 201 



17. Newton's ( Ootheca Wolleyana.' 



[Ootheca Wolleyana : an Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of 

 Birds' Eggs formed by the late John Wolley, Jim., M.A., F Z.S. Edited 

 from the Original Notes by Alfred Newton. Part III. Colimibse — Alcse. 

 Loudon : R. II. Porter, 1905. Price £2 2s. net.] 



We were much pleased in 1902 to receive the second part 

 of the ' Ootheca/ completing the first volume, after a long 

 delay. We have now the pleasure of welcoming the third 

 part of this attractive work, which carries the subject forward 

 from the Colurnbse to the Alcae inclusive. We suppose that 

 a fourth part will complete the second volume and bring the 

 whole work to a conclusion, and we trust that the issue of 

 the final portion may soon take place. 



In our notice (' Ibis/ 1903, p. 120) of the second part of 

 the ( Ootheca ' we explained the general plan of woik, and 

 need not now repeat it. 



The present part, which commences with the Pigeons, 

 contains descriptions of 2791 sets or clutches of eggs and 

 gives particulars of each of them as regards exact locality, 

 date, and authority, so far as information on these points is 

 available. Field-notes and other particulars are added when 

 the subjects are of special interest. Many of these are 

 selected from Wolley's journals and memoranda, and are 

 well worthy of careful study, as shewing the enthusiasm of 

 the great Oologist, and the extreme care that he exercised 

 in the authentication of his specimens. 



Part III. of the 'Ootheca ' is accompanied by eight coloured 

 plates, all of them representing eggs of the Gare-fowl, or 

 Great Auk (Alca impennis), to which bird Prof. Newton, as 

 is well known, has devoted special attention for many years. 

 The first seven plates represent the seven eggs now in the 

 Wolley Collection ; the last is taken from a drawing by John 

 Hancock of a specimen formerly in the cabinet of the late 

 Mr. John Scales, which was afterwards destroyed in a fire. 

 Full particulars are given by Prof. Newton of all that 

 is known of the history of these wonderful and valuable 



