458 Recently published Ornithological Works. 



Mexico and eastwards to the Rocky Mountains, but its 

 chief, and indeed in winter its only, habitat is southern 

 California. In the winter of 1911-12 enormous numbers of 

 these birds were shot by sportsmen and hunters in the 

 southern coast counties of California, and it is feared by 

 Mr. Griimell and other ornithologists that unless strong 

 repressive legislative measures are adopted, this bird will 

 share the fate of the Passenger Pigeon of the eastern 

 States, 



Fortunately they do not breed in communities, as did the 

 Passenger Pigeon, for during the summer they are scattered 

 throughout the forests and mountains of the whole Pacific 

 district ; but the rate of increase is shown to be vei'y slow, 

 as a rule but one egg is laid and one young reared each 

 year. Mr. Grinnell believes that unless they are accorded 

 at least five years' total protection^ they are doomed to 

 extinction. 



Hartert on Unfgured Birds. 



[On some Unfigured Birds. By Ernst Hartert. Nov. Zool. xix. 

 1912, pp. 373-374, pis. i. & ii.] 



Dr. Hartert gives us figures and further particulars of 

 two very curious birds, which, although already named, 

 require to be better known. Manias benschi, described by 

 Messrs. Oustalet and Grrandidier in 1903, is from Mada- 

 gascar, and is certainly one of the most peculiar forms of 

 that abnormal avifauna. It was originally based on a 

 single specimen in the Paris Museum, but Mr. Rothschild 

 has lately obtained three more examples of it. Its true 

 position is, as yet, uncertain, but Dr. Hartert believes that 

 it is not a Passerine bird, and should probably be referred 

 to the Rallidse, unless it is made the type of a new 

 family. 



About the second novelty {Leucopsar rothschildi) there is 

 not so much difficulty, as it is manifestly a Sturnine form 

 but quite distinct from all those i)reviously known. It was 

 recently discovered by Mr. Stresemann in the island of 

 Bali. 



