BIRDS. 
71 
takes a very complete view of the skeleton, instead of that of Cuvier, 
which, in regard to Osteology, was not sutRciently elaborated ; and in 
consequence he does not always keep to the natural arrangement. When 
the author, for example, remarks, that Cypselus and Caprimulgus do 
not altogether agree with Cuvier’s Fissirostres ; he, on his side, justifies 
the separation of these genera from the Swallows, and their complete 
division from the Passerince first proposed by Nitzsch. Two tables, 
drawn up with unwearied care and perseverance, show the measurements 
of the bones of the posterior extremities. 
Mayer has communicated, in the Neuen Untersuch. aus dem Gebiete 
der Anat. u. Phys. Bonn, 1842, some observations on a tooth formation 
in the upper-bill of the foetus of birds, probably destined for gradually 
rubbing through and breaking the egg-shell. There are also remarks on 
the presence of the urinary bladder, which is not totally wanting, but in 
some birds, is distinctly met with even at a later period : And, lastly, 
he remarks on the use of the Bursa Fabricii as a uterus in the female 
bird, and as a seminal sac in the male. 
E. Weber spoke on the construction of the lungs and the mechanism 
of breathing in birds, at the Brunswick meeting of Naturalists. (Amt. 
Bericht, p. 75.) 
C. Siedhof has imparted his experience on the management of Cham- 
ber Birds, particularly Singing Birds, in the Isis, 1842, p. 339. 
Many contributions have been made to the description of different 
Faunas. They constitute the most important part of zoographical labours, 
and are of great consequence in the class of birds, as it is only by a com- 
prehensive knowledge of the principal Faunas, that the extent and direc- 
tion of the migrations of birds of passage can be ascertained. 
The works uj3on German Ornithology by Naumann, Susemihl, Bekker, 
and Zander, have been continued. Brehm has continued his account of 
several trips to Brinnis at Delitzsch, and, as a good observer, has made 
many interesting remarks with regard to Zoology, and in particular to 
Ornithology, which the reporter would extol the more, as he confesses 
himself at variance with the unhappy multiplication of species. 
C. Th. V. Siebold has published new contributions to the Vertebrated 
Fauna of Prussia. (Preuss. Provinzial Blatter, 1842, Bd. 27, p. 420.) At 
first he gives an account of a MS. left by Klein, “ Aviarium Prussicum,” 
as well as of a set of drawings belonging to it. He next discusses some 
rare species which occur in it, namely, Falco candicans, Alauda alpes- 
tris, Ardea egretta, Podiceps arcticus, and auritus, appending some 
observations of his own. Sylvia locustella, never till now mentioned 
as a Prussian Bird, was found by Siebold, in the summer of 1840, at 
Heubude, in the wild garden of Biorn. It is worthy of attention also, 
that in April, 1838, a flight of Rooks entered into the city of Danzig, 
and settling upon all the larger trees, in gardens as well as in the most 
115 
