281 



Catalogue of tlje itrbs in % ISnttsIj Utiiseum. 



By R. Bowdler Sharpe. 



Vol. III. Order — Passeriformes. Sub-order — Passeres. 

 Group. — Coliomorphas. 



We have to acknowledge, with many thanks, another instal- 

 ment of Mr. Sharpens great Prodromus. 



The present volume, embracing the families of the Crows 



(Corvida), Birds of Paradise (Paradiseida), Orioles (Oriolida), 



Drongos (Dicrnridce), and Wood Shrikes. {Prionopidre), deals 



^vith some of the most difficult and debateable groups, which 



ornithology has to systematize. 



That the subject generally, in particular the intricate and 

 difficult species questions involved have been dealt with in a 

 masterly manner, follows naturally from the fact that Mr. 

 Sharpe is the author of the treatise. 



Nothing could be a moi-e welcome addition to ornitho- 

 logical literature at the present time than this new volume ; 

 and if, as we believe, very few ornithologists of the present day 

 will be found to concur in all Mr. Sharpens wholesale amalgama- 

 tions, this is to be attributed, perhaps, rather to his being some- 

 what ahead of his time than to any shortcomings on his part. 



We ourselves have sat aghast as we perused the sauguiuary 

 pages, at the countless executions amongst, what we had 

 fondly deemed, the most eminently respectable species; and 

 while reluctantly admitting that in most cases our judge's 

 sentence, harsh as it seemed, was warranted by the record, there 

 are yet some few in which our uuregenerated nature refuses 

 to bow to the decree, and in which it seems to us that our author 

 has permitted his pen, Cossack-like, to massacre the most in- 

 nocent and irreproachable species. 



As an example of such victims let us cite Pica bottanensis 

 from Bhotan and Native Sikhim, with its uniform velvet-black 

 upper surface without any trace of any pale rump bar, 

 and its dark Calornis-tytleri-crreen tail. How can we agree to 

 merge this in Pica rusticat Perish baclriana aud leucoptera, 

 but boltanehsis ! To us it seems simple murder, and doubtless 

 every ornithologist will feel the same in regard to some one or 

 other of the many u rubbed out" species. It is a poor species 

 that has no friends ; and in this, as in other cases, the friends 

 of the deceased will want to know all about it, and we fear 

 Mr. Sharpe will not have an easy time of it, for the next year or 

 so, after this sanguinary campaign. 



Still, though he may be wrong in some few isolated instances, 

 owing to the lack of sufficient specimens, we feel certain that, 



