IztO " Official Check-list of the Birds of Australia." I ist Oct 



1913 list. That author has emphasized the close relationship of 

 the birds of Australia to those of neighbouring and even more 

 remote lands, by classifying over 70 of the " Check-list " species as 

 sub-species of extra-limital species (some with different names). 

 Over 80 of the 751 species of the "Check-Ust" are regarded as 

 worthy of sub-specific rank only by Mr. Matthews. Twenty-four 

 of the "Check-list" specific names were preoccupied, while for 80 

 of them a prior name had been given. Ten names are fixed by the 

 B.O.U. list, and 33 names require further consideration or more 

 evidence as to validity as Australian species. 



462 species names, 1913 list and "Check-list." 

 81 names valid ; sub-species (G. M. M.). 

 61 names valid; sub-species of extra-limital species. 



604 names common to "Check-list" and 1913 list. 

 10 names fixed by B.O.U. list. 

 24 preoccupied. 



80 names for which there was a prior name. 

 33 names for further evidence. 



751, total. 



Camera Craft Notes. 



Camera versus Gun. — Reviewing " Life-Histories of African 

 Game Animals," by Theodore Roosevelt and Edmund Heller, The 

 Times Literary Supplement (issue 14th May, 1915) says, inter alia : — 

 " The numbers of those who abandon the riiie for the camera is 

 steadily on the increase ; it is becoming recognized that the work 

 of the naturalist who can bring the living animals before the eyes 

 of others is now of higher value to the progress of the science of 

 natural history than the work of the collector of specimens. Each 

 is, of course, complementary to the other, but the time has now 

 come when the hunter must give way to the observer." 



Shrike-Thrush Tamed. — Three years ago a pair of Whistling 

 Shrike-Thrushes {Colluricincla selbii) began to come about the back 

 garden of our residence. To encourage them, various scraps were 

 placed in prominent positions, but the birds' preference for fat was 

 soon noticed. They always took the larger pieces to a crack in 

 the ridge of the wood-shed. This crack held the meat secure, and 

 the birds were able to tug off pieces. Long-tailed Wren-Warblers 

 {Malurits longicaiidiis) and Grey Butcher-Birds (Cracticiis cineretts), 

 discovering that the Shrike-Thrushes often left a reserve store in 

 the " cupboard," paid surprise visits to it. During my sister's 

 long illness, when she spent much time on the verandah, these 

 Shrike-Thrushes became very tame, sitting on her head, running 



