Recent Ornithological Publications. 327 
with the ^Ethiopian type. As to the publication of Museum ap¬ 
pellations without descriptions, we also cordially agree with Mr. 
Cassin that “this proceeding, though it may do well enough to 
heighten the distinction and scientific consideration of the not 
very energetic directors or head or assistant keepers of museums, 
yet materially retards the most important object for which they, 
and the establishments with which they are connected, are 
maintained by their governments or constituents,—which is the 
diffusion of knowledge.” 
P. 124. Calornis corvina. —This bird is certainly not a Color - 
nis, that genus being typified by Calornis cantor , a very different 
form. We believe it would be better placed in Prince Bona¬ 
parte's genus Lamprocorax, as it has been arranged by Dr. 
Hartlaub (Journ. f. Orn. 1854, p. 168). Is Mr. Cassin sure 
that the Samoan bird is the same as the Carolinian ? 
P. 155. Tcenioptera obscura.—Tcenioptera is a pure Neogean 
(New-world) form belonging to a purely Neogean family, the 
Tyrannidce. It would be quite as unnatural to find a Tcenioptera 
in the Sandwich Islands as a Phasianus in South America, or a 
Toucan in Africa. The wing, “with the first quill short,” at once 
shows this bird is no Tcenioptera ,—in that genus the first quill 
being nearly as long as the second. We suggest for this bird 
the new generic title Phceornis , and propose to call it Phceornis 
obscura. 
P. 159. Tatare otaitiensis. —-The oldest synonym for this 
bird is Turdus longirostris of Gmelin, it being Latham's “ Long¬ 
billed Thrush ” (Gen. Syn. iii. 67), from the island of Eimeo, 
as we are able to assert, from having examined type specimens 
so marked in the Derby Museum. 
P. 277. Peristera erythroptera .•—There seem to be several 
nearly-allied species confounded under this name. Mr. G. R. 
Gray has recently (P. Z. S. 1856, p. 7. pi. 115) described and 
figured the bird from the Samoan islands as Calcenas stairi. 
The group seems far removed from Peristera. We have recently 
seen specimens of a closely-allied species from New Caledonia. 
P. 337. Bernicla inornata. —The bird represented in Gray and 
Mitchell's Genera, pi. 165 (as has been already stated in P. Z. S. 
1859, p. 290), is not Anas inornata , King, and should bear the 
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