Vol. V. I South Australian Oniitholo^ical Association. 2 7 



KJ05 J •^ -^ / 



to designate them Strepcra fiisca, or the Brown Crow-Shrike. 

 Specimens from Ouorn, Laura, and Mt. Remarkable, in the north 

 of South Austraha, resembled Strepera fusca in general colour, but 

 the speculum on the wings was not so defined, and not nearly so 

 white. The investigation of the birds shown proved highly in- 

 teresting and valuable in determining the habitat of the species. 



Amongst other specimens of note that were exhibited were a Pink- 

 bellied or Bourke Grass-Parrakeet {Neophema boiirkei). Varied or 

 Many-coloured Parrakeet [Psephotus multicolor), Brown Fly-eater 

 [Pseiidogcrvgone fusca), and White-browed Scrub-Wren {Sericornis 

 frontalis), by Mr. J. W. Mellor. Mr. F. E. Storr exhibited specimens 

 of the White-eyed Duck {Nyroca australis) and the Freckled 

 Duck {Stictonetta ncBvosa) from the River Murray. Mr. E. Ashby 

 showecl specimens of the Spotted Scrub- Wren {Sericornis maculata), 

 Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wren {Hylacola pyrrhopygia) from 

 Kangaroo Island, also a pair of Leach Cockatoos [Calyptorhynclms 

 viridis) from the same ^olace. This was noted as being a new 

 locality for the bird, as it is generally found more towards the 

 interior of South Australia. An egg of this species was also 

 obtained from the Island by Mr. Ashby, and was exhibited by 

 Mr. A. H. C. Zietz, together with an egg of another species of the 

 Black Cockatoo for comparison. Mr. M. Symonds Clark showed a 

 pair of the Black Cockatoo {Calyptorhvuchits funereus) which had 

 been collected on Kangaroo Island many years ago. 



Nomenclature. 



The Condor (vol. vii., Jan.-Feb., 1905) contains an article on 

 nomenclature, dealing principally with the American O.U. code. 

 It is proposed to issue a new code, under the editorship of Drs. 

 Jordan, Evermann, and Gilbert, dealing with some of the knotty 

 problems involved in the department of ichthyology ; but as the 

 principles underlying the new code have equal force so far as bird- 

 names are concerned, they deserve the attention of the gentlemen 

 who are revising the Australasian bird list, and are worth republica- 

 tion. They are summarized thus* : — 



" The value of a code depends not on the authority behind it, but 

 solely on its simplicity, usefulness, and naturalness. Formal agree- 

 ments among groups of authors are always marked by compromises 

 in which fitness and exactness are more or less sacrificed in the interest 

 of unanimity of action. These compromises one and all are discarded 

 in the progress of science. 



" The different canons in this code are based on those composing 

 the code of the American Ornithologists' Union, and so far as possible 

 the language of that admirable document has been followed. 



" Of competitive names otherwise tenable, given by the same author, 

 that one is to be preferred which stands first in the text. In case of 



* A. O.U. in this excerpt must be understood as referring to the American Union. 



