404 Recent Ornithological Publications . 
Stuttgardt, and Philadelphia, which have been made by Dr. 
Hartlaub himself, with the assistance of Jules Verreaux, v. Pel- 
zeln, Schlegel, Krauss, Heuglin, and Cassin. 
We have already noticed the fact, that out of the 203 Mada¬ 
gascar birds enumerated by Dr. Hartlaub, 97 are exclusively con¬ 
fined to the island. The eccentricity of this fauna is, however, 
still further demonstrated by the fact that no less than 29 of 
the genera to which these birds are referable are also forms purely 
Madagascarian, and not met with in the adjoining continent 
or elsewhere. Some of these genera, it is true, may be said to 
be founded upon slight peculiarities; but others, such as Bra- 
chypteracias , Atelornis , Falculia , Philepitta, Oriolia , Euryceros, 
MesiteSy &c., are possessed of such ambiguous characters that 
their position in the natural series is still in many cases un¬ 
settled. That Madagascar has something in common with 
Africa may be inferred from the fact that 42 of its species of 
birds also occur on the mainland of the continent. But, on the 
other hand, Dr. Hartlaub points out that the families Muso- 
phagidce , Lamprotornithidce , Buphagidce , Bucerotidce , and others, 
besides many genera which are especially characteristic of Afri¬ 
can ornithology, are not met with in Madagascar. With regard 
to the views of Geoffroy St.-Hilaire and Pucheran, that this 
fauna has something in common with India, Dr. Hartlaub re¬ 
marks on the occurrence in Madagascar of Ninox , Ploceus, Co- 
psychus , and Hypsipetes, as well as of several well-known Indian 
species. But it has always remained a doubtful point to us, 
whether the presence of some of these may not be attributable to 
introduction by man's agency or some other means. 
After giving this imperfect account of the many interesting 
statements contained in Dr. Hartlaub's introduction to his little 
book, we have only to say, in conclusion, that the Synopsis of 
species is worked out in our author's usual accurate and pains¬ 
taking style, and forms a worthy companion to his well-known 
volume on the Birds of Western Africa. Short but well- 
drawn diagnoses are given of all the birds peculiar to the island, 
as also ample synonymy and references, and, in fact, every par¬ 
ticular which such a handbook of the ornithology of a local 
district ought to embrace. We sincerely hope this may not be 
