^°'- ^'-l Notes and Notices. S 1 



1905 J vJ 



Notes and Notices. 



The Rabbit Pest in Australia : Its Cause and Its Cure. By 

 W. Rodier. The Council of the A.O.U. have received this pamphlet 

 from the author. This system of destroying the pest certainly 

 commends itself to bird-lovers, because no birds are destroyed 

 by the method, as is the case with the various poison formulae. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., Curator National Museum, Melbourne, 

 wi'iting on behalf of that institution, states : — " Any birds or mam- 

 mals which show any variation from the usual type are always 

 welcome additions. We are particularly in want of albino forms 

 of all kinds. I would esteem it a favour if you let our wants be 

 known among your country friends and others." 



Birds of Italy. — To hand from the publishers (Rebeschini di 

 Turati and Co., Milan) is the prospectus of a work entitled " The 

 Birds of Italy, Described Popularly and Figured," by Professor G. 

 Martorelli. It is to be published in parts, and will contain about 

 500 pages, with 200 illustrations (photo, and water-colour). The 

 British Museum classification is to be adopted. 



A Remarkable Parrot. — At the Prahran poultry and dog show, 

 Mrs. Hoffner exhibited a handsome and lively variety of the Pennant 

 or Crimson Parrakeet [Platycercns elegans). The general colour is 

 bright scarlet relieved with white, the white seemingly taking the 

 place of the blue parts in the normal coloured bird — cheeks, 

 shoulders, wing coverts, &c. The eyes are ruby. It was found in 

 Gippsland. thrown out of a nest, and was taken home and reared 

 by the finder. 



The Nature Study Exhibition held at Geclong last Easter was 

 a decided success, and a departure in the right direction. It is 

 hoped that similar shows will follow, at not too distant intervals, 

 in other provincial centres. The exhibitors in ornithology at 

 Geelong were Mr. W. Shaw (gold medal and special prize), Mr. J. 

 Hammerton, jun. (silver medal), Mr. J. F. Mulder (special prize 

 for best local collection), Mr. Neil Campbell, besides a loan collection 

 from the Department of the Government Entomologist. With the 

 exception of the Government collection, none, or very few, of the 

 specimens were named, nor were habitats given. From an educa- 

 tional point of view these omissions were detrimental, notwith- 

 standing many of the species were life-like and artistically set 

 up. 



The second monthly meeting of the Bird Observers' Club was 

 held at the residence of Mr. D. Le Souef, Royal Park, on the 

 evening of 25th April last, the host occupying the chair. Dr. 

 Bryant, Messrs. G. E. Shepherd, A. J. Davidson, J. M. Thomson, 

 and E. J. Christian were elected members. The following papers 

 and notes were read and discussed : — " Shore Birds," by Dr. 

 Bryant; "Young White-bearded Honey-eaters," by Mr. Donald 



