Recently published Ornithological Works. 159 
certainly known as Antarctic is given; those found within 
the Antarctic Circle being designated by small capitals. 
There are only eight of the latter. 
32. Sharpens ^Hand-list of the Genera and Species uf Birds.' 
[A Hand-list of the Genera and Species of Bh'ds. (Nomenclator 
Avium turn Fossilium turn Viventium.) By E,. Bowdler Sharpe, LL.D. 
Vol. III. London, 1901. Pp. xii, 367. Price 10s. 6c/.] 
In the third volume of the ' Hand-list ' the formidable 
task of cataloguing the great group of Passeres is commenced, 
and carried through the Mesomyodians into the Oscines. 
The fourth volume, to be issued, we are informed, in 1902, 
will contain the enumeration of the remaining Oscines and 
complete this important work. 
The following table shows the numbers of the genera and 
species catalogued in the present volume, according to the 
classification there adopted : — 
Order. No. of genera. No. of species. 
XXXIV. Eurylsemiformes 7 16 
XXXV. Menuriformes 1 3 
XXXVI. Passeriformes. 
Subord. Mesomyodi 242 1665 
„ Acromyodi 127 1256 
377 2940 
So that we have enumerated in all 2940 species referred to 
377 genera. 
The task of classifying the Acromyodi or Oscines correctly 
is, as Dr. Sharpe allows, almost hopeless, according to 
the present state of our knowledge ; but we cannot quite 
understand why he should commence his list with the 
Swallows. The Hirundinidse, which have entirely lost their 
outer primary, are without doubt one of the most highly 
developed forms of Oscinine bird-life and should come very 
near the top of the series — i. e. at the further end — in a 
classification which commences, as Dr. Sharpens does, from 
the bottom. 
We also venture to suggest that it would have been a great 
