360 Recent Ornithological Publications. 
Mr. Wallace's remarks in a separate communication [antea, 
p. 318). 
5. American Publications. 
The din of arms around Washington does not seem to deter 
Prof. Baird from his peaceful labours at the Smithsonian Insti¬ 
tution. He has lately printed and widely distributed a list 
of the desiderata of the Smithsonian collection, as regards the 
birds of Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies. This 
is, we believe, preparatory to the completion of a catalogue of 
the birds of this portion of America, which Prof. Baird has had 
for sometime in preparation. Though the list is not very long, 
considering the number of species exhibited in the complete 
Ornis of these regions, it would take up too much space for our 
Journal. We must, therefore, request such of our readers as 
would like to possess it to apply to Prof. Baird, who will forward 
it by post to any one who takes an interest, or who may be in¬ 
clined to assist him in the task he has before him. 
Mr. D. G. Elliot, of New York, has now published the sixth 
part of his ‘ Monograph of the genus Pitta,’ to the progress of 
which we have on several occasions alluded, together with a 
supplementary part, in which the preface, title-page, &c., are 
given, and the whole work brought to a conclusion. The total 
number of plates is 31, each of which illustrates a species of the 
genus,— Pitta crassirostris of Wallace alone being unfigured, as 
Mr. Elliot is unable to assure himself of its distinctness from P. 
irena. A table showing the geographical distribution of the 
species is given after the introduction. Mr. Elliot separates the 
Pitta into two groups. The first of these, Brachyurus , in which 
the tail is short and rounded, contains the greater number of the 
species. The term Pitta he reserves for the second section, with 
the more elongated and cuneate tail, of which only three species 
are known. We believe Mr. Elliot has correctly included in his 
work all the known species of the group, except the two new 
species from Bangka lately described by Prof. Schlegel (see 
antea, p.359). We cannot but congratulate Mr. Elliot upon 
the determined way in which he has brought his work to a 
