ORNITHOLOGICAL WORKS.
AUSTRALASIA has already furnished some most curious and unique species of animals ; and to this new continent and the adjacent islands, naturalists will look eagerly for fresh specimens; which the settlers of the new colony will no doubt discover. Mr. GOULD has taken the Ornithology under his care ; and bus commenced the publication of the Birds of Australia, on the scale and in the beautiful manner of his other large and splendid works. The first part contains specimens of ten birds; and their variety of character and brilliancy of plumage give promise of a rich harvest to the collector. There are three kinds of the Parrot tribe, two of the exquisite little warbler Islalurus, and a superb species of cormorant among them. The greatest curiosity arrived too late to be included in this part,—namely, a specimen of the Apteryx, a bird without wings, that burrows in the earth, where It makes its nest ; though its eggs have never been seen. It has short powerful legs and toes, and is armed with a spur ; along, slender, curved bill, like the curlew, with apertures so fine for breathing through 'hat no nostril is perceptible ; and it is covered with long stringy fee& .s. It will be figured in the Second Part. The lithographic drawings by Mrs. Goma, are equally admirable for picturesque beauty as for ac- curacy and living character : and the superb and artist-like colouring makes each print look like an original drawing. Mr. GOULD has also produced the first part of a miscellaneous col- lection, called lames Avium, forming a supplement to his various pub- lications, with which it is uniform in size and style. It is to hiclude. all new varieties of. birds from every part of the globe several la the • -•1', •• a present mirt are from the Himl aye. A fine species of Guinea Fowl
from Western Africa, figured from the specimen (probably unique) in the United Service Museum, is one of the most interesting, as being i likely one day to become naturalized in our farm-yards: it s a noble bird with handsome plumage, though of sober hues. A little bird almost tailless, Microura Squansata, is a curious variety. The Birds of Europe is now completed by the publication of the Twenty-second Part, with titles, indexes, Etc. It is unquestionably the most masnificent work of its kind.
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