Recent Ornithological Publications. 119 
supposed species as a bird very similar in colour to the hybrid 
which has been variously denominated Fuligula homeyeri or F. 
ferinoides, except that it has the head of a dark brownish-black 
colour, glossed with green—a character which would lead us to 
suspect that F. marila and F. cristata are accountable for its 
origin. Another noteworthy fact mentioned by Herr Radde is, 
that specimens of Falco vespertinus from Eastern Siberia, have 
the under surface of the wings either entirely white or white 
barred with grey, instead of the uniform deep tint which is found 
in European examples. The former are distinguished by our 
author as “ var. amurensis We must also take occasion to re¬ 
mark that Herr Radde, who has certainly enjoyed preeminent 
opportunities for observation, declares (p. 292) that Syrrhaptes 
paradoxus lays four instead of three eggs. This statement is in 
confirmation of that of M.Helanoue, but opposed to the testimony 
of Prof. Reinhardt (cf. ‘Ibis,’ 1864, p. 196), as well as to what v 
might be supposed, by analogy from the prevalent practice in 
other Pteroclidce, to be the habit in Syrrhaptes. 
5. American. 
‘The Journal of Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy’ 
for last June contains a paper by Mr. Lawrence, which, though 
not a long one, demands a somewhat detailed notice here. The 
species (four in number) characterized as new have all been 
previously mentioned in that gentleman’s lists of the Birds of 
Panama, published in the ‘Annals of the New York Lyceum/ 
but have been mentioned under other names. Tachyphonus rubri - 
frons is apparently distinct from T. xanthopygius, to which Mr. 
Lawrence formerly referred it. Antlms parvus is now separated 
from what the author considers to be A. rufus of Gmelin, from 
Bahia; but having regard to what Professor Baird has recently 
said in his ‘Review of the Birds of North America’ as to our 
confused knowledge of the South American Titlarks, we cannot 
help feeling that the difficulty in making them out is hardly 
decreased by this addition to the number of described species. 
Mr. Lawrence is at some pains to show that Thamnophilus 
nigricristatus differs from T. affinis , Cab. and Heine (Mus. Heim 
We hear that Mr. Gurney has received this variety from Natal! 
! S~ 
Hi 
