Recently published Ornithological, Works. 687 
in 1816 applied the name Saxicola montana to Monticola 
saocatilis. We see no reason for this change and consider it 
to be unnecessary. Nor can we agree to adopt Mr. Ober¬ 
holser’s new name et Perissospiza ” for Pycnorhamphus , 
because “ Picnoramphus ” of Rosenberg (a useless synonym 
of Sphecothera) is not identical. We also object to 
Mr. Oberholser’s version of the specific name of the Blue 
Rock-Thrush. Linnaeus called it “ cy anus’’ which word is a 
substantive and cannot be altered to “ cyana.” 
125. Oberholser on Birds from Madagascar. 
[Catalogue of a Collection of Birds from Madagascar. By Harry C. 
Oberholser. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxii. p. 235.] 
A collection of birds made in Madagascar (1894-96), 
chiefly in the neighbourhood of Imerina, by the Rev. James 
Willis, has been obtained by the U.S. National Museum. 
It contains 110 specimens belonging to 57 species, of which 
a catalogue with critical remarks is now given. Amongst 
the rarities are examples of Lophotibis cristata , Ardeola 
ocanthoptera, and Newtonia amphichroa. By iC Anhinga rufa” 
we presume Plotus levaillanti is indicated. To recently 
changed names such as this it is better to add the usual 
appellation, in order to assist the “ slow coaches ” who are 
not always alive to the newest discoveries of their more 
enlightened friends. 
126. Py craft’s f Story of Bird-life’ 
[The Story of Bird-life. By W. P. Pycraft. London : George Newnes, 
Ld., 1900. 1 vol. 12mo. 244 pp. (Price Is.)] 
This is a very nice little book, and should be bought and 
read by every lover of birds, whether scientific or unscientific. 
We have seldom seen so much good and-mostly-correct in¬ 
formation on our favourite subject compressed into so small a 
compass, and to be acquired at so cheap a rate. The twelve 
chapters on the bird’s form and structure, its clothing, its 
food, its flight, its courtship, its home, its nursery, its distri¬ 
bution in time and space, and finally on its pedigree and 
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