68 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
guished from Chalcites {L.) lucidus (under wliicli name they 
were treated), and its eggs considered to be dimorphic. One 
egg of each of the two first mentioned, togetlier with one of 
Cuculus inornatus, C. cineraceus, Acanthiza lineata, A. pusilla, 
A. nanaj Geobasileus regulouleSy Smicrornis brevirostris, Stipi- 
turns malacuruSj Chthonicola minima and Ftilotis auricomus, is 
figured. 
ScHACHT, H. Die Baukiinstierunserer Vogel. Zoolog. Garten, 
1869, pp. 40-48, 80-84, 97-102. 
Notes on the architecture of birds. The author^s conclusions 
are that their capability of nidification is inborn and not learnt. 
The yearling in its first work betrays the same skill as its parent. 
The choice of a locality for the nest seems in course of time to 
be a matter of reflection ; though nests of one and the same 
species are found which, as regards substantiality and accuracy 
of execution, differ remarkably from each other, it would be 
theoretical to ascribe the less skill shown in the building to the 
want of experience in younger birds. The author, after many 
observations and comparisons, believes that the nests of the first 
broods in the year are always the finest and strongest. 
Sternberg, Chrysanthus. Zur Fortpflanzungsgeschichte des 
Viehstaares, Molobrus sei'iceus (Licht.). Journ. fiir Orn. 
1869, pp. 125-136. 
The notes were made near Buenos Ayres, and are of great 
interest. Eight species of birds, Troglodytes platensis, Tyr annus 
violentus, Leistes anticus, Cotyle leucorrhoa, Zonotrichia matutina, 
Sycalis luteiventris,Anthus rvfuSj and, curiously Molobrus 
badius are duped into becoming foster-parents of this parasitic 
bird. The editor of the ^ Journal ^ contributes some additional 
remarks. 
. Notizen aus der Vogelwelt von Buenos-Ayres. [Sec 
Neotropical Begion.'’^] 
Accipiter hrevipes (Zool. Bee. i. p. 67, ii. p. 93), notes on its breeding. T. 
Kriiper, J. f. O. 1869, pp. 26-28. 
Meniceros bicorms, its mode of nidification and habits during incubation 
described. 0. Horne, P. Z. S. 1869, pp. 241-243. 
Tyrannus carolinensis and Troglodytes aedon, extraordinary number of eggs 
laid by. 0. H. Nauman, Am. Nat. iii. p. 390. 
Sialia sialis, variations in its eggs. E. Ingersoll, Am. Nat. ii.pp. 391, 392. 
Ploeeus haya, notes on its mode of nidification. 0. Horne, P. Z. S. 1869, 
pp. 243-245, pi. xvii. 
Pedionomus torquatus, its egg (ex ovario') described. W. V. Legge, P. Z. S. 
1869, p. 237. 
Lolivanellns yoensis, its breeding-habits described. C. Horne, Ibis, 1869, 
pp. 454-466. 
