472 



Bibliographical Notices. 



are given as they never could have been under any other circum- 

 stances. The native plants are also correctly delineated and grouped 

 with the birds, which renders the work interesting to a botanist. 



Among the more remarkable species represented now, is the 

 Alectura Lathamii, a bird which has been an object of speculation 

 among ornithologists until the present time. The venerable Latham , 

 to whom it has been dedicated, originally described it as a Vulture, 

 but afterwards saw reason to change his opinion, and to place it 

 among the Rasorial birds. The same view was taken by the au- 

 thors of the ' Illustrations of Ornithology/ who placed it as the 

 Australian representative of the Cracidce or Megapodina, but Mr. 

 Swainson in his late Treatise has again restored it to its ancient 

 place. The observations of Mr. Gould have now, however, decided 

 the proper station to be that which Latham assigned to it, and have 

 in addition brought to light some most remarkable points in its ceco- 

 nomy, We have instances of several birds leaving their eggs to be 

 hatched by warmth of the sun, but nowhere have we seen a bed ar- 

 tificially prepared for that purpose so as to generate heat. The Alec- 

 tura collects large heaps of dried leaves and grasses, several of the 

 birds assisting at the same time ; and when the heat by fermentation 

 has become sufficient for the purpose, the eggs are placed in an up- 

 right position, separated from nine to twelve inches apart, in this 

 dunghill or artificial hot-bed, and apparently left to their fate. It 

 is stated that " it is not an unusual event to obtain nearly a bushel 

 of eggs at one time from a single heap." Another fine bird is 

 figured under the name of Leipoa ocellata, possessing the strong feet 

 of the Megapodince, but in the other parts of its form evidently re- 

 presenting Penelope. This bird also leaves its incubation to be per- 

 formed artificially : the eggs " are deposited in a mound of sand, the 

 formation of which is the work of both sexes ; the inside being con- 

 structed of alternate layers of dried leaves, grasses, &c, among which 

 the eggs are deposited, to the number of twelve and upwards. They 

 are hatched by the heat of the sun's rays, the vegetable lining of the 

 hillock retaining sufficient warmth during the night." This species is 

 yet little known, and is from Western Australia, frequenting the bar- 

 ren sandy plains of the interior, 100 miles north and east of York, 

 and known to range as far northward as Gautheaume Bay. A new 

 species of Cinclosoma is figured, besides other interesting birds, and 

 a very extensive list of synonyms is given, to which it would be 

 useful if Mr. Gould would add the date of each author referred to. 

 We are not always certain that the prior name is selected, which ap- 

 pears to be the object when it is quite unobjectionable. We trust 

 the work will meet with the encouragement it deserves, and are 

 happy to perceive that several public institutions, both in England 

 and Scotland have already given their names as subscribers. 



Alga Scandinavice exsiccate, quas distribuit Johan. Ehr. Areschoug, 

 Fasc. 1. Gotteburg, 1840. 



This and the following work have been kindly addressed to us by 

 the author. It is a welcome addition to the various collections of 



