INTRODUCTION 



renown, and a place amongst the leading bird-photographers 

 of Australia. Many of their pictures have been accepted 

 for publication in "The Emu," the official journal of the 

 Royal Australian Ornithologists' Union, and admittedly 

 one of the best-produced journals in the world. The orni- 

 thological facts recorded can be accepted as scientifically 

 correct. 



The book will be very valuable to those desiring help 

 in becoming photographers, and also to those desiring to 

 obtain a good knowledge of local birds. Prompted by the 

 example of these successful naturalists, boys and girls 

 will learn that there is no royal road to success, but that 

 patience, work, and steady effort command and almost 

 invariably achieve success. 



Such faithful work cannot be done by any student 

 without his gaining a real first-hand knowledge of the 

 subjects treated. Already the authors have won an assured 

 place as knowing thoroughly much of the life history of 

 several characteristic Australian birds. Indeed, the success 

 achieved has placed them in the front rank of Australian 

 ornithologists and naturalists. 



It is hoped that many will follow in their footsteps 

 and develop an interest in the Australian avifauna, one 

 of the richest in the world, but one which is, unfortu- 

 nately, passing away before the "advance of civilisation," 

 Many of our birds seem doomed to extinction. The lyre- 

 bird, so well treated later, will, we fear, cease to be heard 

 in the beautiful gullies described. The fox has discovered 

 the nest, usually so easily reached ; and the one egg or 

 chick is often destroyed. It is hoped that the attempt to 

 introduce the lyre-bird into Tasmania will be successful, 

 for the fox has not reached that island. The lyre-bird, 

 though confined to the region adjacent to the mountains, 

 practically from Melbourne to Brisbane, is still destroyed 

 for the plume trade and for so-called "scientific specimens." 

 Permits should not be issued to private collectors desiring 

 skins of lyre-birds ; and, of course, no export of the beau- 

 tiful tail-feathers should be permitted. It is not long since 

 120 such feathers were listed for a London plume sale. As 

 only two of the broad feathers are in each tail, at least sixty 

 male birds in good plumage must have been destroyed for 

 that one sale. 



