648 Recently published Ornithological VP orks. 



of the oviduct of the herij which is of considerable import- 

 ance^ since at least half the mass of the normal hen's egg 

 is elaborated by the walls of this organ during its passage 

 along it, namely, the albumen, the shell-membrane, and the 

 shell itself. 



Mr. Surface claims that he is the first to point out the 

 presence of certain glandular structures in the funnel region 

 at the commencement of the oviduct, where the ovum is 

 grasped and enters the oviduct after ovulation. It is from 

 these glands, he believes, that the thin layer of more dense 

 albumen, known as the chalaziferous layer, is derived. 



The functions of the other portions of the oviduct have 

 already been pointed out, but in the present paper the whole 

 of the minute structure is described, and the parts played by 

 each region of the oviduct, from the funnel to the vagina, 

 in the formation of the various portions of the egg are 

 clearly pointed out. 



Tschusi on the Ornithological Literature of Styria. 



[Zoologisclie Literatur der Steiermark. Ornithologisclie Literatur, 

 Von Viktor Ritter v. Tschusi zu Schmidhoiien. 1912, 1913. Mitt. Nat. 

 Ver. Steiermark, vol. 50. 1913, pp. 136-145.] 



The title of this paper fully explains its contents. It 

 contains a list of all ornithological papers relating to Styria, 

 in Austria, published during the years 1912 and 1913. 



British Birds. 



[British Birds, edited by H. F. Witherby, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., assisted 

 by Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain, M.A., M.B.O.U., and Norman F. Ticeliurst, 

 M.A., F.R.C.S., M.B.O.U. Vol. vii. nos. 1-12. June 1913-May 1914.] 



The contents of the seventh volume of ' British Birds ' 

 appear to be quite as varied and interesting as those of its 

 predecessors. 



Among the more interesting articles is one from Mr. G. B. 

 Humphreys, who has discovered a breeding-place of 

 the Roseate Tern in Ireland, the exact locality of which he 

 wisely refuses to divulge. Miss Best and Miss Haviland 

 contribute some wonderful photographs of the Grey Lag 



