36 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
This work we have not seen. It is well spoken of by a 
reviewer (American Naturalist, 1868, pp. 554, 555). 
Maklin, F. W. Vetcnskapliga Gmruler fur Bestiimmandet af 
FogclartcrriasOrdjiingsfoljd iiioin sliigtcii och gruppcr. Hel- 
singfors: 1807. 8vo, pp. 131. 
On the proportion between the dimensions of various parts of 
the skeleton the capability of flight depends ; and this the author 
considers to be the surest ground for the systematic arrange- 
ment of birds. If the power of flight or, perhaps more cor- 
rectly, the disposition for a more or less remarkable flight, be 
represented by u, the length of the humerus by liy that of all the 
wing-bones by a, and that of the trunk by t, then 
The dimensions of 102 specimens, belonging to upwards of 90 
species, are minutely given to this end, and a list of the results 
obtained given, Thus Struthio camelus stands with 0*79 as what 
we may call its figure of merit Gallus domesticus with 1*67, 
and so on till that of Hirundo rustica is found to be 3 ’88, and 
Cypselus apus 5*76. A good many remarks are also made on 
the sternal apparatus of birds. 
Milne-Edwards, a. Recherches Anatomiques et Paleontolo- 
giques pour servir h Bhistoire des Oiseaux Fossiles de la 
France. Livr. 18-25. Paris : 1868. 4to, plates. 
With the twenty-second part, the text of the first volume of 
this most important work is brought to a elose. In includes, 
beside the groups mentioned in our notice last year (Zool. Rec. iv. 
pp. 49-50), those of the Totanides {Scolopacidce and Chara- 
driidoi) and Ciconides (Ciconiid(/i and Ta7Ualidai), the former 
containing a new genus, and the latter two. IJydronds natator 
diadi Dolichopterus viator {tom. cit. p. 122) are spoken of as “ Pal- 
mipedes'*^ of uncertain position, the first having affinities both 
with the Lamellirostres and the Longipennes.^^ The second 
volume begins with the ^^Gruides^^ (Gi'uidce)^ with three new 
species, and goes on with Phoenicopterides^^ [Phoenicopteridce) , 
with three new genera and eight new species (I), and the “ Ar- 
deides^* {Ardeidcs), with one new species. The Rallides,^^ of 
which a considerable number of the remains of extinet speeies 
are figured, will apparently follow; but not having as yet re- 
ceived any of the letterpress relating to them, we at present 
suspend any notice of this group. 
The method of treatment which we described last year is still 
pursued, and the work deserves all that we can say in its praise. 
The new species will be found named in our special part. [ Cf. 
Ibis, 1868, pp. 220-222 ; 1869, pp. 218-220.] 
Newman, Edward. The Death of Species. Zoologist, Sec. Ser. 
pp. 1345-1358, 1385-1395. 
