Recently published Ornithological Works. 179 
their names in a footnote, if only to show that desiderata 
occur even in this excellent Collection. Of A. nigrigenis 
many examples have lately been imported alive to England, 
and it has been well figured by Goodchild in the f Avi- 
cultural Magazine’ (vi. p. 317, 1908). 
After examining these two articles we are more dissatisfied 
than ever with the practice of reducing what are quite valid 
and well marked species to subspecific rank merely because 
they are supposed to be representatives of each other in 
different areas. 
13. North on new Birds from the South Pacific. 
[On Three apparently undescribed Birds from Henderson or Elizabeth 
Island, Paumotn Group. By Alfred J. North. Ilec. Austr. Mus. vol. vii. 
No. i. 1908.] 
Six specimens, in spirit, of birds from Henderson or 
Elizabeth Island, an outlier of the Paumotn Group, South 
Pacific, have been lately received by the Australian Museum, 
Sydney, from Mr. A. E. Stephen. They are referred by 
Mr. North to three new species, which he proposes to call 
Calliptilus (?) stepheni , Ptilopus insular is, and Porzana atra. 
Two plates are given to illustrate the natural features of the 
island, which belongs to Great Britain. 
14. North on the Nesting of the Australian Black-and- 
White Fantail. 
[On an unusual Nesting-site of Sauloprocta melaleuca. By Alfred J. 
North. Pec. Austr. Mus. vii. p. 21 (1908).] 
A pair of this pretty bird nested in 1907 in the verandah 
of Mr. North’s house at Roseville, Sydney. As the nest was 
just opposite his sitting-room, Mr. North had good oppor¬ 
tunities of observing the habits of this species, which are 
here fully described. Mr. North noticed that both parents 
sit, but that after a remarkably short time each bird called 
to its mate to be relieved. The average time during which 
each bird sat was only a quarter of an hour. This species 
has not been previously observed to build in a house. 
