90 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
noch, T, Mackenzie j op. cit. p. 8959 j in France and Germany (with remarks 
on its affinities), L. O. Gaillard, Ibis, 1864, pp. 129, 130 j in Italy, T. Salvadori, 
op. cit. pp. 228, 229 j in Belgium, E. de Selys Longchamps, Bull. Acad. Belg. 
1864, pp. 22-25 ; in Northumberland and Durham, J. Hancock, Trans. Tyne- 
side Nat. Field Club, 1864, pp. 100-103 j in Norway, E. Collett, Nyt Mag. 
Naturvid. For. Christiania, hi. part 3, pp. 176, 177. 
Newton, A. The IiTuption of Syrrhaptes paradoxus (witli a 
map, plate vi.) . Ibis, 1864, pp. 185-222. 
The author, after referring to the bibliography of the species, 
quotes Radde^s experience of it in South-eastern Siberia (Bericht 
Uber Reisen in Siiden von Ost-Sibirien, pp. 373-417), to prove 
that SyiThaptes is subject to sudden and almost capricious move- 
ments on a very large scale, which he thinks may help to explain 
the remarkable visitation of 1863. , He then shows that the 
records stating that it appeared in Europe between 1859 and 1863 
are erroneous, and compiles, from various sources, information 
respecting the bird’s appearance in 148 European localities, in 
the year last named, from Galicia to Donegal, and from 
Gascony to the Eairoes. The earliest date given is 6 May in 
Moravia; by the end of that month the furthest point towards 
the north-west had been reached. The main body does not 
seem to have reached England, a flock of about 100 being the 
largest recorded as observed in this country, while several bands 
of at least as many continued to haunt various places on the 
Continent. At the beginning of October between 150 and 200 
were seen in Riigen flying towards the south-east, and probably 
making for the land of their birth. The strength of the in- 
vading force is estimated at not less than 700. In Jutland and 
Holland they bred. After considering and rejecting the various 
causes assigned by different writers as likely to have produced 
this movement, the author states his belief that it was merely the 
natural overflow of the population of Syrrhaptes resulting from 
its ordinary increase, and that the immigrants were seeking new 
settlements. The species first got its foot in Europe in 1853 ; 
in 1859 it came again ; and in 1863, owing to the same increas- 
ing pressure from within, still more start and come still 
further. If this hypothesis be correct, another outpouring may 
be safely predicted. The conclusion of the article strongly con- 
demns the wanton slaughter of these volunteers for acclimatiza- 
tion. 
Megapodiii)^. 
Megapodius pritchardi is a new species from the island of Nina Fou. 
G. II. Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 41, pi. vi., and Ann. & Mag. N. II. ser. 3. vol. xiv. 
p. 378. Mr. Gray adds to his account of this bird a list of the twenty-one 
species of this family known to him, of which there are specimens of 
eighteen in the British Museum. 
