202 From Magazines, &c. [^^^ 



F^nni 

 April 



while Krause's " Oologia Universalis Palaearctica " is not, in Dr. 



Sclater's opinion, quite so successful, but may prove to be a 



useful work. 



Anent the subject of egg-collecting : Some discussion has 



taken place recently in the columns of the American publication, 



Bird-Lore, for and against the practice. Australians are 



mindful that the principal authorities of the present day on 



Australian ornithology have all been egg-collectors in their 



early days. 



* * * 



The Methods and Technique of Measuring Birds. 

 — In The Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union for 

 December, 1906, Prof. Anton Reichenow contributes useful 

 instructions. After pointing out that it is highly desirable when 

 describing a bird that the parts and colours be correctly named 

 (a diagrammatic chart of a bird is printed on the same page), 

 he states : — 



" It is desirable to give measurements in millimetres, because 

 in the case of small measurements with centimetres the employ- 

 ment of decimals may easily lead to mistakes and misprints. 



" I. The total length (T.L.) is the measurement from the tip of 

 bill to the tip of central tail feather, measured on the out- 

 stretched body of a bird ; the body must not be forcibly 

 lengthened. 



"2. T\).& length of zvin^ {L,. oCW.) is the measurement taken 

 from the carpal (wrist) joint to the end of the longest flight 

 feather. The method is as follows : — Place a millimetre rule 

 under the wing and press the wing gently on to it, reading the 

 scale thereafter. 



" 3. The length of tail (L. of T.) is the measurement from the 

 root of the tail feathers to the end of the longest feather. The 

 measurement is taken by placing the rule underneath the tail 

 with one end of the rule against the place where the under tail 

 coverts start, and where also can be easily felt the roots of the 

 tail feathers proper. 



" 4. The length of tarsus (T.) is the measurement from the 

 notch in the posterior part of the joint between the leg and the 

 lower thigh, to the notch between the upper ridge of the middle 

 toe and the lower edge of the lowest scale of the front part of 

 the leg ; should be taken with a pair of compasses. 



" 5. The length of the middle toe (M.T.) is the measurement 

 from the notch on the anterior ridge of the lowest scale between 

 the leg and the root of the middle toe to the point of the claw 

 on the middle toe — the toe being outstretched, 



" $a. The length of the middle claiv (M.C.) is the measurement 

 taken from the upper anterior edge of the last scale on the toe 

 to the point of the nail on the claw. 



