Recent Ornithological Publications . 209 
2. German. 
In our recent notice of Herr von Pelzeln’s Ornithology of the 
e Novara’ Voyage [supra, p. 115), we mentioned briefly that 
author’s remarks, therein included, on the variation in the 
plumage of many of the Falconidce. He has now published 
some more general observations on this interesting subject in 
the f Transactions of the Zoological and Botanical Society of 
Vienna’ (1865, pp. 912-946), of which we should be glad to 
present our readers with a translation, did space allow. All 
English ornithologists know that White Blackbirds or Black 
Bullfinches are very commonly met with in country newspapers ; 
but few persons have ever taken the trouble to collect these and 
similar records with the view of discovering whether some sort 
of theory or law may not be deduced from the facts when 
brought together. 
The following statement shows the number of species, and the 
kinds of variation to which they are subject, on which Herr von 
rdzeln’s remarks are founded :— 
“ Albinismus,” complete 32; incomplete 45; partial 37. 
u Melanismus,” „ 15; „ 6; „ 2. 
“ Erythrismus,” ,, 17. 
/sy 
If. 6~£r 
It would not be difficult to add to these numbers; and one 
case especially not remarked upon by our author, and which 
would come under the last head, occurs to us as we write. It 
is that of a most curious variety of the Green Woodpecker 
(Gecinus viridis), with a flame-coloured rump and yellow bands 
on the wing, which is in the possession of Mr. J. H. Gurney, 
and was described by him in the ( Zoologist’ for 1853 (p. 3800); 
while Mr. Robert Birkbeck, in the same journal for the follow¬ 
ing year (p. 4250), mentions his having seen three or four 
similar examples in the Pisa Museum. 
In the same journal (Verhandl. Z.-B. Gesellsch. 1865, pp. 985- 
986) Herr von Pelzeln also describes as new two Goatsuckers 
obtained by Natterer in Brazil, under the names of Hydropsalis 
xypanemce and H . pallescens, —the former generally resembling 
H. forcipata, but smaller and having the three middle pairs of 
N. S.-VOL. II. 
P 
