Recenthj published OrnithoJoyical Works. 463 



NortJi on Australian Nests and Eggs, 



[Nests and Eggs of Birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania. 

 By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S. Vol. iii. pts. iv. & v. 1912, and vol. iv. 

 pt. i. 1913, pp. 249-3G2 and 1-96, pis. A 15-A 17, Bxvi.-Bxviii. Sydney 

 (Australian Museum). 4to.] 



Since July last (' Ibis/ 1912, p. 548) three more parts of 

 Mr. North's excellent work have readied us. These contain 

 descriptions of the nests and eggs of the remaining Accipitres, 

 the Striges, Steganopodes, Ilerodioucs, and Auseres. In 

 addition to nesting notes there are descriptions of the birds 

 themselves, and often comments on the plumage change?, 

 distribution, and other habits. Of the two series of phites, 

 the A-series are reproductions of photographs of nesting- 

 sites and young birds, the B-series contain figures of the 

 eggs described, reproduced from photographs, of which, 

 however, it is impossible to judge, as those sent for review 

 are uncoloured. We would also like to enter a protest 

 against the practice of stamping most of the plates and 

 outside leaves with " specimen copy for review,^' as the 

 whole appearance of the copy is thus much disfigured. 



Oberliolser on the Great Blue Heron. 



[A Iievision of the forms of tlie Great Blue Heron {Ardea herodias 

 Liniifeus). By Harry C. Oberholser. Proceedings of the United States 

 National Museum, vol. xliii. 1912, pp. 531-559.] 



In this memoir the author treats the Great Blue Heron 

 in much the same fashion as he did the Little Green Heron 

 in a previous paper. He has been able to examine 221 

 examples of the species, which ranges from Alaska to the 

 Galapagos, Panama, and the West Indies, and finds that 

 he can distinguish ten recognisable races. Of these, ^n/ea 

 herodias adoxa from the West Indies, A. h. hyperonica I'roni 

 the Pacilic coast-region of the United States, and A. h. 

 oligista from Santa Barbara Islands, California, are here 

 described for the first time. 



Mr. Oberholser regards Ardea occidentalis, a pure white 

 form which only occurs on the Florida Keys, as a distinct 



