Recently published Ornithological Works. 103 
With all deference to Dr. Duller, we put these stories on 
a par with the oft-repeated fable of the hybrids between the 
domestic duck and the fowl. That Ocydromi will tread hens 
if they get a chance, we do not doubt j but that their sper¬ 
matozoa will impregnate the latter^s eggs has, as yet, not 
been shown satisfactorily. Dr. Duller should obtain examples 
of the alleged produce for the dissecting-knife. 
Desides Dr. Duller’s papers the same volume contains :— 
Demarks on Dr. von Haast^s Classification of the Moas,^^ 
by Captain F. W. Hutton, Director of the Otago Museum 
{ibid. p. 363), which are worthy of attention; an account of 
^^a Second Discovery of Moa-Dones at Hamilton,^^ by D. S. 
Dooth {ibid. p. 365) ; some Notes on the Occurrence of a 
Curlew {Numenius cyanopus, Vieillot) in New Zealand,’^ by 
Julius von Haast, Ph.D., E.D.S. {ibid. p. 427); and Notes 
on the Antarctic Petrel {Priocella antarctica) ” by James 
Hector, C.M.G., M.D., E.D.S. {ibid. p. 464). 
2. Lawrence on New Birds from the Island of Dominica. 
[Descriptions of new Species of Birds from the Island of Dominica. By 
G. N. Lawrence. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. i. pp. 46-49.] 
We are glad to learn that an exploration of some of the 
least-known of the West-India Islands, for the purpose of 
elucidating their natural history, has been undertaken by 
Mr. Ered. A. Ober, of Beverly, Massachusetts, under the 
auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. As yet his investi¬ 
gations have been confined to Dominica, whence two collec¬ 
tions of birds have been received, and sent to Mr. Lawrence 
for determination. 
In the present paper Mr. Lawrence describes three new 
species contained in the collection—namely Thryothorus 
rufescenSj Dendrmca plumbea, and Myiarchus oberi. Besides 
these novelties Mr. Ober obtained a series of Thalurania 
wagleriy hitherto supposed to be from Brazil,^^ but which 
is probably peculiar to the island. 
A complete list of the avifauna will be given when the rest 
of the collections are received. Mr. Ober is now gone on to 
Antigua, 
