484 Recently published Ornithological Works, 
tropical flora and fauna^ and their characteristic groups. One 
or two slips occur_, sueh as when we are told that the blood¬ 
sucking bats belong to the genus Phyllostoma^ •, but the 
general subject has never been treated of in a more lueid 
manner. 
The fourth chapter^ however, on the Humming-birds, as 
more especially illustrating the luxuriance of tropical nature, 
is that whieh will above all interest the ornithologist. Mr. 
Wallace's explanation of the way in whieh the singular state 
of afPairs as regards the Trochilidse of Juan Fernandez and 
Mas-afuera may have come to pass deserves particular 
attention. 
77. Nathusius on the Structure of the Egg-shell in the 
Oscines. 
[ Abgrenzung der Ordnung der Oscinen von den Clamatoren, Scansoren 
imd Columbiden durch die Structur der Eischalen. Von W. v. Nathii- 
sius (Konigsborn). Zeitzscb. f. d. ges. Wiss. ser. 2, Bd. xviii. p. 69.] 
In continuation of previous memoirs on the microscopieal 
structure of the egg-shell in birds, Von Nathusius now de¬ 
scribes the peculiar structure of the egg-shell of the Oscines, 
and shows that that of the Clamatores is quite different, and 
agrees rather with that of the Scansores and Columbse. 
Cypselus belongs in this respect to the latter type, while the 
structure of the egg-shell in Hirundo is distinctly Oscinine. 
In Steatornis the egg-structure is that of the Caprimulgidae. 
78. Buller on the Birds of New Zealand, 
(1) Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand,^^ by Walter 
L. Buller, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Institute, vol. v. (1877) 
p. 191. 
(2) Further Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand,^^ 
by the same, ibid. p. 201. 
(3) ^^On the Disppearance of the Korimako [Anthornis 
melanura) from the North Island,^^ by the same, ibid. p. 209. 
(4) “ Further Descriptive Notes of the Huia [Heteralocha 
acutirostris) by the same, ibid. p. 211. 
^ Op. cit. p. 120. See what Mr. Dobson says on this point in his new 
^ Catalogue of Bats/ pp. 486, 549. 
