60 Messrs. P. L. Sclater and E. C. Taylor's 
Two specimens of this form are in Mr. Gould's collection, 
no others being known to exist. The characters these ex¬ 
amples present are not sufficiently satisfactory to entitle 
them to an independent specific rank without giving rise 
to great doubts regarding the propriety of such an acknow¬ 
ledgment. Mr. Gould, in his work, compares them with 
L. cceligena; but their affinity is doubtless with L. wilsoni, 
of which species they are probably a dark variety. As we 
become better acquainted with the Trochilidse, we find that 
no family of birds presents a larger number of individuals 
that vary more or less, in the colour of their plumage, from 
the typical style of the species to which they belong; and 
whenever one of these is encountered, greater service is ren¬ 
dered to the science of ornithology by waiting for further in¬ 
formation regarding it, than by describing it as distinct. 
Had such a policy been followed, one of the most fruitful 
sources from which have come so many useless synonyms 
would have been dried up long ago, and Trochilidists would 
have been spared much unnecessary labour. In the mean¬ 
while, until we have further evidence that wdll substantiate 
its claims to a distinctive rank, L. purpurea cannot but hold 
a very doubtful position among the species of this group. 
VIII .—Ornithological Notes from Constantinople. 
By P. L. Sclater and E. C. Taylor. 
During a few days spent in Constantinople in the months of 
September and October last, with our attention principally 
directed to other objects, we could not hope to be able to do 
much for our favourite science. We are nevertheless disposed 
to think that some of the notes made during our recent visit 
to that great eastern city may be of some little interest to our 
brother ornithologists. 
First, as regards birds observed by ourselves on “ field and 
flood " we may say a few words. Coming down the Danube 
we had occasion to remark that the Crane (Grus cinerea) is, 
as yet, by no means extinct in Eastern Europe, as we saw 
