1921.] Recently published Ornithological Works . 545 
and sumptuous work on tlie Pheasants has at last appeared, 
and fully bears out the expectations formed by the first. 
We understand the publication of the other two volumes, 
which, will complete the work, will not be long delayed. 
The present volume deals with the Kaleege and Silver 
Pheasants of the genus Gennceus, the Malayan Firebacks of 
the genera Acomus and Lophura, the remarkable White¬ 
tailed Wattled Pheasant of the genus Lobiophasis , and the 
Jungle-Fowls, four in number, of the genus Gallus. 
Perhaps the most valuable and remarkable feature of this 
work are the personal observations of Mr. Beebe himself, 
which are chiefly included under the heading of “The Bird 
and its Haunts.” The success which Mr. Beebe had (during 
the comparatively short time in which he was travelling in 
the east) of observing in their native jungles so many species, 
is extraordinary. Of the nine species of Gennceus he has 
personal experience of five ; he saw four out of the five 
species of Firebacks as well as the Lobiophasis , and three 
out of the four Jungle-Fowls. 
In his taxonomy, Mr. Beebe is distinctly conservative and 
a lumper. He reduces the number of species of Gennceus to 
nine—a great reduction from sixteen of the Hand-list and 
Mr. Baker's estimate of eight species and eight subspecies. 
Mr. Beebe believes that the great number of the species 
described chiefly by Oates from Burma, and often founded 
on single specimens, are natural hybrids which occur at the 
junction of the ranges of G. lineatus with the more western 
G. horsfieldi and the more eastern G. nycthemerus , and he 
has devoted a good deal of argument to endeavouring to 
prove this thesis. We shall not attempt here to give an 
opinion on this question, but in any further attempt 
at revision Mr. Beebe's views must have great weight. 
The coloured plates, of which there are forty-four, are, 
with the exception of five, reproduced from paintings by 
Mr. George Lodge. Mr. C. B. Knight, the American bird- 
artist, is responsible for the Silver (Gennceus nycthemerus) 
and the Fireback {Lophura igniia); while Mr. Gronvold 
contributes three, illustrating chicks and plumages. Our 
