no Slate Secretaries' Reports. \ ' 



Oct 



Sanctuaries continue to be created throughout the State. A 

 splenchd concession (and one which will interest members who 

 attended the Brisbane congress last year) is the proclamation of 

 the whole of Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay, as a sanctuary for 

 native birds and animals. This island has an area of 123 square 

 miles, and ranks next to Hinchinbrook Island (North Queensland) 

 as the largest insular reservation in Australia. The greatest 

 sanctuary of all is the Barron Shire (N.Q.), the whole 490 square 

 miles of which were proclaimed a sanctuary at the request of the 

 shire council. 



Late in August Brisbane members of the Union had the 

 pleasure of entertaining at tea Professor J. Burton Cleland, 

 R.A.O.U. (South Austraha) and Colonel (Dr.) Home, R.A.O.U. 

 (Victoria), both of whom were in Brisbane in connection with 

 the Australasian Medical Congress. 



Queensland will be represented at the annual meeting of the 

 R.A.O.U. in Perth. The distance is too great, however, to ensure 

 a good attendance from this State. 



A. H. Chisholm, State Secretary. 



Review. 



[" The Birds of Australia." By Gregory M. Mathews, F.R.S.E. \'ol. viii., 

 parts I and 2.] 



It is a relief to AustraUan ornithologists to see again the parts 

 of this great work. It was feared that, on account of the 

 enormous increase in costs, pubUcation would have to be 

 suspended ; but fortunately that catastrophe has been averted. 



The high standard set up at the beginning, so many years ago, 

 is weU maintained in the parts under notice. Indeed, it is 

 surprising that, whilst in every other direction the effects of 

 shortage of material and increased costs are plainly visible, yet 

 this remarkable work has gone on in a marvellous way unimpaired, 

 and on a uniformly high level of excellence. As a matter of fact, 

 increased excellence is seen in these parts, for all the plates arc 

 by the famous bird artist Gronvold— a sufficient guarantee of 

 their accuracy and high finish. However, the placing of two 

 or more species on a plate may possibly be due to the demands 

 of economy. 



The field notes are, as usual, varied and interesting, and arc 

 contributed by many of the best-known AustraUan field workers. 

 The researches into the past history of the species are thorough, 

 and the essential facts are fully set out. 



Approval, too, may be expressed of some general remarks on 

 the classification of birds made by Mr. Mathews. These suggest 

 a hope that his many years of constant, faithful, and critical 

 study of masses of material and literature have placed Mr. 

 Mathews in the position of being able to suggest an up-to-date 

 classification of birds. 



