24 From Magazines, &c, L ^' 



Emu 

 July 



out conspicuously in the bright sunh'ght. Another of the Coot 

 family seen was the Moor-Hen {Gallinula taiebrosa) of more 

 sombre colour and smaller than the former species. The Coot 

 (Fitlica australis), with its blackish plumage and white headcap, 

 was also present in more open localities, and a few Hoary- 

 headed Grebes {Podicipes poliocepJuxliis) were diving in the deep 

 water. These little roundish-looking balls of downy feathers are 

 called " Dabchicks," and are adepts at diving, in which way they 

 procure their food. On a neighbouring willow tree several 

 Little Cormorants {PJialacrocorax melanoleunis) were perched in 

 solemn state, after feeding on fish. The Magpie-Lark (Grallina 

 picata), known as " Pee -wee " from its cry, was searching along 

 the mud-banks for aquatic insects, upon which it lives. In the 

 same hunting grounds it procures the soft mud with which it 

 builds its cup-shaped mud nest, always placed on a horizontal 

 bough of a tree near the water's edge. The sweet notes of the 

 Reed-Warbler ( Acrocephalns aitsiralis) could be heard on all sides 

 where the reeds and flags afforded shelter for it to seek its food 

 without being brought too near the busy crowd. The Welcome 

 Swallow (Hirundo neoxenn);^M\\\\ its characteristic tameness, swept 

 past like a flash of light, and skimmed over the tranquil surface 

 of the water, where myriads of small gnats and mosquitoes 

 were buzzing. One was led to ask what mankind would do if 

 it were not for the birds, especially those whose habits destine 

 them to prey on insect life. — South Australian Register, 23/2/07. 



Reviews. 



[" Supplement to 'The Birds of New Zealand.'" By Sir Walter Lawry BuIIer, 

 K.C.M.G., F.R.S., &c. In two volumes. Published (for the subscribers) by the 

 author, 62 London Wall, E.C. 1905.] 



An obituary notice of the late Sir Walter Buller appeared in 

 this journal (vol. vi., pp. 79-81), in which it was stated that the 

 great native-born ornithologist, before he passed away, had just 

 completed a two-volume " Supplement " to *' The History of the 

 Birds of New Zealand." 



The editors of TJie Emu have since had an opportunity of 

 reviewing the " Supplement." They find the work more than a 

 supplement in an ordinary sense. It is the author's splendid 

 standard work of 1888 brought up to date by separate sub- 

 sequent additions of careful and copious notes, both field and 

 cabinet, to each species ; alterations in nomenclature where 

 necessary ; besides names and information concerning fresh 

 species recently added to the New Zealand region. Orni- 

 thologists generally and New Zealand colonists in particular, are 

 to be congratulated on possessing such a completed work as Sir 

 Walter Buller has left to them and to posterity. 



