682 Recently published Ornithological Works. 
Weaver-bird, Ploceus rutledgii , is merely P. megarhynchus 
Hume, in summer plumage. He also suspects that Munia 
malaca interbreeds with M. atricapilla , and makes a sug¬ 
gestion for a more natural division of the Ploceidse, from 
the form of the culmen, into Ploceinse and Spermestinse. 
He likewise records his experiments on sexual selection in 
the Avadavat ( Sporceginthus amandava). 
112. Hall on Pardalotus assimilis. 
[Notes on the Occurrence in Victoria of a Phase of the Subspecies 
Pardalotus assimilis Ramsay. By Robert Hall. Proc. Linn. Soc. 
N. S. Wales, 1899, p. 472.] 
Mr. Hall describes a form of Pardalotus occurring in 
Victoria, which is considered to be “ a phase ” of P. assimilis 
Ramsay, and presents some slight differences from that sub¬ 
species of P. affinis (cf. Cat. B. x. p. 56). 
113. Harms on the Birds of Archangel. 
[Beitrage zur Kenntnis der ornithologischen Fauna des Archangelsker 
Gouvernements. Von Michael Harms. Ornithol. Jahrb. xi. p. 81.] 
The author passed thirteen days in July 1899 (6th to 
18th) at Sijskov, a village on the river Dwina, near the 
confluence of the Sija, in 63° 37' N. lat., and made a good 
collection of birds, of which he gives an annotated list. 
Phylloscopus borealis was found breeding, and at that time 
had unfledged young. One of the most interesting Pas¬ 
serines met with was Emberiza aureola, of which 21 examples 
were obtained. It inhabits the meadows on the banks of 
the Dwina, and has a short melodious song ; its nests and 
eggs were taken. 
114. Hartert on the Study of Subspecies. 
[Ueber das Studium der Unterarten. Von Ernst Hartert. J. f. 0. 
1900, p. 129.] 
Mr. Hartert sends us a separate copy of his discourse on 
subspecies which was read before the Anniversary Meeting 
of the German Ornithological Society in October 1899. We 
