90 From Magazines, &c. [znd'o'ci. 



This feature is only specific at least, for, in other respects — general 



contour, shape of head, long tapering tail, &c. — the Alexandra 



Parrakeet resembles the Green- Leek [Polytelis harrahandi) and 



Black-tailed Parrakeets {P. melanitra). The Rev. Hubert D. 



Astley, M.B.O.U., writing to The Avicultural Magazine (June) in 



reference to some Alexandra Parrakeets which he has in captivity, 



states :- — " I wonder why, just because a bird happens to grow a 



peculiar-shaped feather in the wing, it should be given a separate 



name ? The Princess of Wales Parrakeet is evidently of the same 



group as the Barraband [Polytelis harrabandi) and the Rock-Pebbler 



[P. melanura). Because one brother or cousin in a family has a 



snub nose, and another a Roman nose, it does not make him of a 



different geuus ! " 



* * * 



Save the Penguins. — According to Tlie Times (weekly edition) 

 a vigorous, if not heated, debate followed the motion brought for- 

 ward by the Hon. Walter Rothschild at the Ornithological Congress 

 held in London. Speaking, he said, as an exponent of the wish of 

 the bulk of the Congress, he moved — " That a telegram be sent to 

 the Government of New Zealand and Legislature of Tasmania, 

 urging them to introduce legislation to prevent, in islands under 

 their rule, the destruction of Penguins now going on for the sake 

 of boiling the birds down into oil." Numbers of members spoke 

 in support. Sir W. Buller (who is writing a book on the subject) 

 and Dr. Giglioni spoke with especial vehemence ; and one of the 

 delegates from the Australian Ornithologists' Union, after announc- 

 ing that the Legislature of Tasmania had recently put the Penguin 

 on the total protection list, said that such a telegram would strengthen 

 his hands. He also gave some terrible details of the torture of 

 Mutton-Birds (Petrels). At this point a vigorous protest was made 

 by M. Leonhard Stejneger, from the United States, on the ground 

 that the Congress had no business to dictate to Governments, and 

 he instanced the hypothetical feelings of the American Government 

 if so schooled. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe replied that if the Americans 

 were boiling down Penguins in the Philippines and the Congress did 

 not tell them to stop the Congress had better cease to exist. 

 Finally the motion was enlarged by including " the Commonwealth 

 of Australia " and the substitution of " all birds boiled down for 

 oil " for Penguins, and passed with the one dissentient. 



Far Southern Seas. — At the International Ornithological 

 Congress recently held in London Mr. W. S. Bruce's account of 

 the Scottish Antarctic Expedition proved, according to The Times 

 (weekly edition, 23/6/05), much the most remarkable address 

 given during the Congress. The Scotch brought back a considerably 

 richer collection than any of the three other expeditions — a success 

 which Mr. Bruce attributed chiefly to the excellent shooting of Mr. 

 D. W. Wilton. Directly a possibly rare bird was seen a boat was 

 lowered, and, in spite of rough seas and considerable danger, Mr. 



