Recent Ornithological Publications. 103 
recent communication to the Zoological Society, Poephila pad - 
doni was discovered in New Caledonia as long ago as the year 
1774 by the Forsters, who accompanied Capt. Cook in his second 
voyage. It is described and figured by Latham in his f Synop¬ 
sis 3 (vol. iii. p. 287. pi. 48) as the “ Parrot Finch,” which name 
was latinized by Gmelin into FHngilla psittacea. It belongs 
strictly to the genus Erythrura. We are not aware that the 
curious process attached to the anterior extremity of the ischium, 
mentioned by Mr. Eyton as occurring in the Cuculidce and their 
affines, has been previously noticed as being peculiar to this 
group, although some allusion to it appears to be made in Dr. 
OpeFs elaborate paper on Cuculus canorus published in Cabanis^s 
Journal for 1858. Mr. TristranFs discovery of a species of the 
purely African genus Amydrus in Palestine is certainly remark¬ 
able. 
‘ The Zoologist , for 1858 contains, as usual, a number of 
notes on the habits of birds and the occurrence of rare species, 
which must always be of great interest to the naturalist. 
The second volume of the f Catalogue of the Birds in the 
Museum of the Hon. East India Company, by Thomas Hors- 
field and Frederic Moore*/ recently issued, is the continua¬ 
tion of a very important work, which we hope soon to see com¬ 
plete. There is as yet no such thing as a scientifically-prepared 
catalogue of the birds of any of the larger museums j* of Europe; 
and it will be no small honour to produce the first of such a 
series. Moreover, the numerous notes concerning the habits of 
species added to the synonyms in this work render it almost a 
book of light reading for the general naturalist, as well as a 
valuable work of reference to those who are engaged in studying 
the ornithology of the East. We may call particular attention 
to the notices given of the very strange habits of various species 
of Hornbills (Buceros) during the period of incubation (p. 587 
et seq.). Similar facts were noted by Dr. Livingstone { in his 
recent journey in Africa concerning Toccus erythrorhynchus. If 
we have any fault to find with the book, it is that the generic 
* London, Allen and Co., Leadenhall Street. 
t We should except perhaps that of Bremen, of which a carefully pre¬ 
pared catalogue has been printed by Dr. Hartlaub. 
J Livingstone’s Missionary Travels in South Africa, p. 613. 
