Recently published Ornithological Works. 515 



Two well-known birds are classified in quite a new way. 

 In the Scolopacidse Mr. Mathews considers that the bill (and 

 other characteristics) of the Australian Painted Snipe are 

 not " Scolopacine/' and proposes for that species and its 

 congeners the new family Rostratulidse. Again, the Aus- 

 tralian '^ Dotterel" is clearly shown to be an abberant 

 Courser, and is therefore included in the family Glareolidse. 



All the birds treated in these parts are of somewhat excep- 

 tional interest, especially as regards their life-histories, and 

 the selections as to these seem to us particularly well chosen. 



tinder the Jacanas Parra is said to be antedated by 

 Jacana, and it is proposed to change the Family name 

 from Parridse to Jacanidse, but the former is usually 

 accepted, and we do not like the change or consider it 

 necessary. Similarly for the Stone-Curlews Burliiuidse is 

 used for CEdicnemidse ; but even if we accept this we should 

 be very chary of using the term " Burhinine " in English ; 

 these adjectives are only useful when the Family name is 

 firmly settled. In this Family Orthorhamphns is accepted as 

 differing from Esacus, while the bills are well figured to show 

 the distinctions. Four subspecies of Burhinus magnirostris 

 at least are recognised. 



We may pass quickly over the Australian Crane under 

 its still unfamiliar name of Matheivsia to note that 

 Threskiurnis is preferred to Ibis and ISpatherodia upheld for 

 [Platalea) regia, but must pause longer to join cordially in 

 overthrowing Billberg's Egathtus for the Glossy Ibises, and 

 restoring the better known Flegadis. The Australian form 

 of this group is found to difler from the European and is 

 called P. falcmellus peregrinus. 



Similarly the Jabiru is Xenorhynchus asiaticus australis, 

 for it nevei', says the author, ought to have been confounded 

 with its Indian congener. 



The Grey Heron is practically rejected as an Australian 

 species, and the reader will find that in three cases Gould's 

 names are resuscitated for other Herons, though used in a 

 subspecific sense, while it must be remembered that Myola 

 is Mr. Mathews^ new name for Ardea pacifica. 



