Recently published Ornithological Works. 315 



a pity that he did not take a taxidermist with him, but then he 

 Mould not have ''got through'^ so quickly. Moreover, the 

 Avifauna of this end of South America is pretty well known. 

 Crawshay's ' Birds of Tierra del Fuego ' is, we believe, not 

 yet out of print, and Jameses ' New List of Chilian Birds ' 

 is not obsolete. Besides, Mr. Blaauw is an excellent 

 observer, and has an unrivalled knowledge of the fine Ducks 

 and other water-fowl of this part of the world, based especi- 

 ally on specimens living in his own Menagerie. We believe 

 that those species to which he has added the scientific names 

 may be considered to have been correctly determined. As 

 regards the controversy whether there is more than one 

 species of Steamer-Duck in Antarctic America, Mr. Blaauw 

 is of opinion that there are two distinct forms, one of which, 

 the typical Tachyerns cinereus, is a big and heavy bird and 

 is quite unable to fly ; it is absolutely confined to the sea, 

 and was seen by Mr. Blaauw in large numbers in Smith 

 Channel. The other species, which, if distinct, should be 

 called Tachyeres patachonicus King, was repeatedly seen by 

 Mr. Blaauw flying high overhead and was common in Tierra 

 del Fuego, especially on the freshwater lakes inland. In 

 recent years Salvadori (in the 'Catalogue of Birds') and most 

 other authors have been of opinion that there was only one 

 species of Steamer-Duck, but Capt. Abbott, who wrote on 

 the birds of the Falkland Islands ('Ibis,' 1861, pp. 161-162), 

 was, like Mr. Blaauw, quite convinced that there were two 

 species, a flying and a flightless one, and that both occurred 

 in the Falkland Islands. 



Brabonrne and Chubb on the Birds of South America. 



[Tlie Birds of South America. By Lord Brabourne, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., 

 and Charles Chubb, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. (Zoological Department, British 

 Museum). Vol. i. List, pp. xx+50J:. London (Porter), 1912. L. 8vo.] 



The authors of the important work of which the first 

 volume is now before us have set themselves to a long and 

 heavy task^ which, however, we trust they will bring to a 

 satisfactory conclusion. Mr. Charles Chubb, who is well 

 known to all Ornitholoiiists that visit the Bird-room at 



