Recently published Ornithological Works. 515 
and many other noted ornithologists. Dr. Bureau writes on 
the plumages o£ Sabine's Gull, and Preiherr v. Berlepsch on 
the " Chasse aux grives " of Central Europe, in the course of 
which he states that over one million Thrushes are slaughtered 
every year. More than half of these are Song-Thrushes 
[Tardus musicus). 
Coloured figures are given of Ptilupus huttoni Finsch 
(from E-apa^ South Pacific) and of a supposed hybrid between 
Turdus obscurus and T. iliacus from specimens in the Milan 
Museum, also a photograph of a tame Humming-bird (Chloro- 
stilbon splendidus) which died at Milan after living six months 
in captivity. 
The next Congress, it is stated, will be held in London, 
with Dr. Bow.dler Sharpe as President. 
93. Ridgway on the Birds of North and Middle America. 
[The Birds of North and Middle America, By Robert Ridgway. 
Part I. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 50, 1901.] 
We welcome with pleasure the first volume of the long- 
promised work of Mr. Ridgway on the birds of North and 
Middle America, and are sure that our friend and fellow- 
labourer will not take amiss the remarks we here make upon 
it. In the first place, we are glad that the author has been 
driven, by stress of circumstances, to commence with the 
most highly developed birds — the Passeres. It was a great 
mistake, in our opinion, when certain modern ornithologists 
determined to begin " from the bottom upwards.^' One 
way of treatment, if properly carried out, is, of course, just 
as correct as the other ; but as, up to a recent period, it had 
always been the practice to commence with the highest 
forms, it is very confusing to find the lowest types at the 
top and the Passeres at the bottom. 
Mr. Ridgway, we are pleased to say, begins with the 
nine-primaried Oscinine Passeres, and his first volume is 
entirely devoted to the Fringillidse, under which head he 
includes — not without some reason, we admit — the group 
that previous authors have usually classed as the Fringilline 
or Thick-billed Tanagers. Of the huge family Fringillidse, 
SER. VIII. VOL. II. 2 xVI 
