AVES. 
,39 
AVES 
BY 
Alfred Newton^ M.A., F.L.S., etc. 
No ONE can be more painfully aware of the many imperfec- 
tions of this compilation than its author is. Yet he trusts that 
its shortcomings are of such a character as, with the kiijd 
assistance of his brother- ornithologists, maj?^ be ameliorated in 
future years ; for he believes that much of its incompleteness 
may reasonably be ascribed to the short period which has elapsed 
between the commencement and execution of this ^ Record ^ ; and 
he would earnestly request that early notice of all papers re- 
lating to Ornithology which may appear during the present year 
may be sent to him, so as to render his contribution to the 
next volume of the ' Record ' more deserving of the attention 
of naturalists. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
Hartlaub, G. Bericht iiber die Leistungen in der , Natur- 
geschichte der Vogel wahrend des Jahres 1863. Archiv 
fiir Naturgeschichte, Jahrgang xxx. Band ii. pp. 33. 
Berlin: 1864. 
This, the Eighteenth Annual Report on the progress of orni- 
thology which has proceeded from its learned author’s pen, fully 
maintains the excellent qualities he has taught us to expect, as 
a matter of course, in all he publishes. On the present occasion 
we are glad to find Dr. Hartlaub strongly protesting against the 
mania of genus-making now so prevalent ; but we regret to say 
that he is not sanguine of its early cessation. A reaction may 
take place when each species is put in a genus by itself. But 
then what is a species? This question is still unanswered. 
Dr. Hartlaub thinks it is only when we know everything 
about every bird,’’ that the discussion of the ideas ^ Species,’ 
^ Genus,’ and ' System ’ will come to an end. Till then many 
an obtrusive mihi ” will strut forth with impunity. We trust, 
however, our author may have taken somewhat too unfavourable 
a view of the cause which underlies all this genus -making ; if 
not, it is much to the discredit of ornithologists. 
We cannot here refrain from stating our great obligations to 
Dr. Hartlaub’s admirable series of Reports,” the main features 
of which we have not hesitated to copy in our portion of the 
