Bibliographical Notices. 59 



the same series, in which he proposes to treat of the Birds, has long 

 been anxiously expected by naturalists who devote their attention to 

 this class of animals. It is, we presume, a resume of the species, as 

 arranged in this forthcoming work, that Prof. Blasius has lately 

 printed in Germany '* for his private use." In the present * List,' 

 therefore, which has been " reprinted from the German original," 

 and specially amended by the author for the English edition, we 

 have the arrangement hkely to be followed in Prof. Blasius' s long- 

 expected volume. 



So many changes take place every year in the nomenclature and 

 arrangement of Birds, even of those that are found in the circum- 

 scribed area of Europe, that a new list of species is from time to 

 time very necessary to the naturalist. We are, therefore, much in- 

 debted to Mr. Alfred Newton for supplying this convenient and 

 well-arranged Catalogue, which, there is little doubt, will fulfil the 

 translator's expectations of being " of service to those who are inter- 

 ested in the study of European ornithology." The total number of 

 species " breeding in or regularly visiting Europe," as recognized in 

 Prof. Blasius's present list, is 420. Those which have only "strayed 

 in accidentally, and have for the most part been observed but once," 

 are inserted in their proper places in the list, but are distinguished 

 by their names being printed in italics, and by bracketed numbers. 

 This category includes 103 species, raising the total number of 

 authentic species (according to Prof. Blasius's views of that much- 

 disputed term) which occur within the limits of Europe to 523. 

 Besides these. Prof. Blasius enumerates 55 " varieties commonly 

 considered as species," and amongst these we observe are located 

 the British forms Motacilla Yarrellii, Budytes fiaveolus, Tetrao 

 scoticus, &c., which Prof. Blasius considers inseparable specifically 

 from their Continental prototypes Motacilla alba, Budytes jlava, 

 and Tetrao albus, &c. Ornithologists may or may not agree with 

 Prof. Blasius in these views, but it is quite certain that the differences 

 which separate these nearly allied forms are not equal in amount to 

 those that are found between species (such as Turdus musicus and 

 Turdus viscivorus) universally recognized as distinct, and that the 

 judgment of so great an authority as Prof. Blasius on the subject 

 must be received with respect. Finally, the species that have been 

 asserted to occur in Europe, "on doubtful authority," are included 

 in the catalogue, with notes of interrogation appended, and a refer- 

 ence is given to the works wherein they are noticed as having been 

 obtained vrithin its limits. In this part of the list only Mr. Newton 

 has introduced some additional matter, by adding, for the informa- 

 tion of his fellow-countrymen, a few references, " chiefly relating to 

 rarer captures in England." 



On the whole, we may state that, in spite of certain peculiarities in 

 the nomenclature (with which we cannot agree), we consider this to 

 be the most complete and most satisfactory of all the lists of the 

 Birds of Europe hitherto published. 



