Vol.^xviil.j A Valuable Gift to the R. A. O.U. 233 



1919 



A Valuable Gift to the R.A.O.U. 



('■ The Birds of Australia," by Gregory M. Mathews, F.R.S.E., 



vols, i.-vi.) 



That generous patron of Australian ornithology and friend of 

 the Union, Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, has added one 

 more to his long list of benefactions. The Christmas gift of 

 Mathews's "The Birds of Australia," volumes i.-vi., beautifully 

 bound in green morocco, came as a complete surprise to the 

 Council. Several members have already spent busy days in the 

 R.A.O.U. room, suggested and made possible by Mr. White. 

 There, available for scientific research, the student now has 

 Gould's " Birds of Australia," Mathews's " Birds of Australia," 

 Broinowski's " Birds of Australia," Legge's " Birds of Ceylon," 

 Campbell's " Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds," and many 

 lesser works. 



The six volumes of Mathews's "Birds of Australia" so far 

 completed contain a treatment of about half the birds of Australia. 



Vol. i. deals with the members of the first six orders of Aus- 

 tralian birds. The well-known flightless birds, the Cassowary and 

 the Emu, with the three extinct Emus of Tasmania, Kangaroo 

 Island, and King Island, are grouped in the sub-class Palcsognathce. 

 The remainder of the Australian birds are placed in the sub-class 

 NeognathcB. The Scrub-Fowls, Mallee-Fowls, and Brush-Turkeys 

 — the marvellous mound-builders — are described, with copious 

 field notes from various Australian field workers, many of whom 

 are members of the Union. 



The Quails, the three-toed Bustard-Quails, and the Australian 

 Plain Wanderer, are figured life-size. The twenty-five fine plates 

 of Pigeons strengthen the claim of the Australian region to be 

 regarded as the headquarters of Pigeons. 



Two of the three Australian Grebes are referred to species 

 represented in Britain. Mr. Mathews's investigations show the 

 close relationship of many Australian birds to well-known 

 European species. The Peregrine Falcon and the Barn Owl come 

 readily to mind. The old practice of naming birds as distinct until 

 they were proved to be the same deprived the student of the 

 knowledge of the relationship and of the use of much literature. 

 Students appreciate gi'eatly Mr. Mathews's efforts to place the 

 Australian avifauna in its proper position amongst the world's birds. 



An account of the three Australian species of Penguins, those 

 remarkable southern birds, completes an interesting first volume. 



Vol. ii. contains results of a most exhaustive investigation of 

 the Petrels, Albatrosses, Terns, Gulls, and Skuas — birds mainly 

 characteristic of ocean and shore. Mr. Mathews produces 

 evidence to discredit the accepted ideas of the winter where- 

 abouts of Mutton-Birds, so numerous in the nesting season on 

 the islands of Bass Strait. He indicates his behef that they do 

 not travel far from their breeding-places. He suggests the need 

 for further research, and rejects some species from the Australian 



