68 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
autlior (and from its frequent mention in the present work 
appears to a certain extent still to he reeognized) is stated not 
to be a natural order ; and the forms previously assigned to it 
are variously relegated — Notoiniis to the Coots, Struthio to the 
Bustards, Didus to the Doves, while Apteryx, Dinornis, 
Pcdapteryx are said to bear affinity to the Megapodes. Never- 
theless some of these genera find places in the author^s sys- 
tematic list ; nor is any suggestion made as to the position of 
Archceopteryx. 
But it is in the descriptive portion of this treatise that Prof. 
Owen^s powers are manifested. The Osseous, Muscular, Nervous, 
and other systems have each a chapter devoted to them, and 
are treated as fully as the limits allow. Respecting this (the 
most important) portion of the book, however, Ave are precluded 
from entering into details. The illustrations, Avliich are mostly 
the old woodcuts of the ' Cyclopsedia ■’ introduced into the 
letterpress, are very numerous and judiciously chosen, but not 
particularly Avell executed. 
(Cy. Ibis, 1866, pp. 408, 409; Journ. Anat. and Physiol, no. 1. 
pp. 139,140.) 
Owen, Richard. Memoir on the Dodo (Bidus ineptus, Linn.). 
With an Historical Introduction by the late William John 
Broderip. 
(See special part, under Didida3.) 
— . EAudence of a Species, perhaps extinct, of large Parrot 
{Psittacus mauritianus, Oavcu), contemporary with the 
Dodo in the Island of Mauritius. 
(See special part, under Psittaci.) 
Parker, W. K. On the Structure and Development of the 
Skull in the Ostrich Tribe. Phil. Trans. 1866, pp. 113- 
183, pis. vii.-xv. 
This is the first of a series of papers on the morphology of 
the vertebrate skull ; and the Ostrich tribe is chosen partly 
because of the mid position held by those birds among Verte- 
brates, and partly because of their generalized character. The 
development of the various bones composing the skull is most 
carefully traced in Struthio, Rhea, Dronueus, and (Jasuarius, 
from examinations of very young examples ; and some valuable 
remarks are made on the skull of the adult Dinot'nis. D. casit- 
arinus, Owen, is said to be a Notornis. Casuarius is shoAvn to 
present most unmistakeable mammalian characters, especially in 
its inferior turbinals and post-temporals. The structure of the 
skull in Tinamus and Psophia is also described ; and that of the 
first is considered by the author to be not only perfectly Struthious 
(Zool. Record, i. p. 59), but also more nearly related to the La- 
certian Reptiles than are the Struthioiies and higher groups of 
birds. Mr. Parker is convinced of the entire distinctness of the 
