Vol. V. 



Iy05 



J Reviews. 



lOI 



nomcnclatui-e is just as great in zoology (and botany) as in chroma- 

 tography ; and to ignore this necessity is neither scientiiic nor sensible, 

 but on the other hand is nothing less than suppression or pervex'sion 

 of an obvious truth. The only question that can possibly exist in the 

 mind of those who have this matter to deal with is the degree of 

 difference which should be recognized in nomenclature, and in this 

 respect there is excuse for more or less difference of opinion, according 

 to one's ability to discern differences and estimate the degree of their 

 constancy, the extent and character of material studied, and the 

 amount of time which has been devoted to its investigation. No 

 doubt many of the forms which the author has recognized as sub- 

 species in the present work may appear trivial to others, especially 

 those who have not had advantage of the material upon which they 

 are based ; but in all cases it has been the author's desire to express 

 exactly the facts as they appear to him in the light of the evidence 

 examined, without any regard whatever to preconceived ideas, either 

 of his own or of others, and without consideration of the inconvenience 

 which may result to those who are inclined to resent innovations, 

 forgetful of the fact that knowledge cannot be complete until all is 

 known. This question of species and sub-species and their nice dis- 

 crimination is not the trivial matter that some who claim a broader 

 view of biological science affect to believe. It is the very foundation 

 of more advanced scientific work ; and without secure foundation no 

 architect, howcxer skilful, can rear a structure that will endure." 



Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



Rough Minutes of 32ND Meeting of the Council of the A.O.U., 



HELD AT the RESIDENCE OF Dr. C. S. RvaN, T^J CoLLINS-STREET, 



17TH August, 1905. 



Correspondence was received from the following : — 



The Hon. the Premier of Tasmania, stating -that he was in com- 

 munication with the Hon. the Premier of New Zealand with a view 

 to co-operating with regard to the protection of Penguins at Mac- 

 quarie and other islands south of New Zealand, as desired by the 

 Council of the A.O.U. 



The President of the Marine Board of South Australia wrote stating 

 that he would have pleasure in meeting the desire of the Council of 

 the A.O.U. as far as possible, in that they would place the steamer 

 Governor Miisgrave at the disposal of the Council and members of the 

 A.O.U. attending the Annual Session, and would convey them to the 

 " camp-out " at Kangaroo Island, at the same time pointing out that 

 the steamer did not usually visit Kangaroo Island until December, 

 but that they would arrange to make their trip fit in with the time 

 of the Session programme. He also enclosed a plan of Kangaroo 

 Island. 



Mr. J. W. Mellor also wrote, informing the hon. sec. that he had 

 ascertained that Middle River would be the most advanttigeous site 

 for the camp-out, both as regard the suitability for landing and the 

 study of the avifauna of the island. 



The president, Captain Hutton, F.R.S., wrote from England, staling 

 that he had unfortunately been unable to attend the first meeting ol 

 the International Ornithological Congress held in England, but had 

 attended the second meeting, and found that Mr. F. M. Littler, F.E.S., 



