Recently published Ornithological Works. 201 
Newfoundland. Although fatigued, “it gave evidence of 
having eaten within a few hours,’ perhaps on board some 
ship going eastward ; and it fed heartily on chopped meat 
and chicken, though it died shortly before Sandy Hook was 
reached. The incident throws some light on “assisted 
passages 7”; though in this case fortune led to the re-conduc- 
tion of the bird to the Western Hemisphere. We have 
passed over several papers of local interest, but the remarks 
of Mr. F. A. Lucas on the authenticated speed of birds 
in contrast with estimates and calculations may be read 
with advantage on this side of the Atlantic. Those of us who 
are interested in the Protection of Birds may well envy the 
National Association of Audubon Societies the bequest of 
$100,000 by the late Albert Wilcox, of New York City, who 
had been a generous benefactor during life. £20,000, 
saddled with no conditions as to maintaining a library or a 
museum out of the parish rates (prodigious!). “ There is 
need, however, for further increase of funds, and it is hoped 
that other bequests may follow.”—H. S. 
4. ‘The Avicultural Magazine.’ 
[Avicultural Magazine. The Journal of the Avicultural Society. New 
Series. Vol. iv. Nos. 10-12, Vol. y. No. 1. London: August to November 
1906. } 
The most important papers in these numbers are those on 
tne Violet-eared Waxbill (Estrelda granatina) by Mr. R. 
Phillipps, and on the genus Coturnivx by Mr. D. Seth-Smith, 
each with a coloured plate. Of the first species—which we 
should hardly call a “visitor” to this country—a good account 
is given by the author, and we are glad to be able to inform 
him, from personal observation in the Bulawayo bush, that 
the bird is certainly found in considerable flocks in August, 
and appears to breed there later in the year. Mr. Seth- 
Smith’s notes on monogamy in the genera Synevcus and 
Excalfactoria and polygamy in Coturnix are a special point 
in his paper. 
Several species are reported as having bred and reared 
