260 From Magazines, &C: [isfAprii 



From Magazines, &c. 



Mr. D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S.. continues his admirable and practical 

 articles on "Bird-keeping" in The AviciiUiiral Magazine. The 

 issue for December (vol. iii.. No. 2), contains remarks on "Quails" 

 of special interest and instruction to Australians. 



The Progress of Oology. — In the course of his address on the 

 opening of the twentieth session of the British Ornithologists' 

 Union (8/11/11), Dr. P. L. Sclater, F.R.S., stated :~" Last, but 

 not least, we are delighted to hear that the fifth volume of the 

 ' Catalogue of Birds' Eggs ' in the British Museum will be issued 

 next year. The work, which was commenced by Mr. E. W. Gates 

 some years ago, has been almost completed by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie- 

 Grant. We wish to become acquainted with every part of the 

 bird's structure in all its stages, and rejoice in the progress of 

 oology as shown bv these publications." — Bulletin B.O.C., 

 No. CLXXIIL 



Mr. Thomas Parkin, M.A., F.Z.S. &c., has issued a neat little 

 brochure entitled " The Great Auk : a Record of Sales of Birds 

 and Eggs by Public Auction in Great Britain, 1806-1910," with 

 historical and descriptive notes and five plates, issued as an extra 

 paper, vol. i, part 6, of The Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist. 

 While it is regretted that civilization has destroyed this fine 

 fowl from off the face of the earth, Mr. Parkin is to be thanked 

 for his painstaking task in preserving an authenticated record of a 

 number of skins and eggs that are still extant. The highest prices 

 realized at the sales were, for a handsome skin, £350. which was 

 purchased for the Royal Scottish Museum, while Mr. James 

 Gardner of Oxford-street, London, gave :{330 for the finest known 

 egg for its special type of markings — an unrecorded specimen from 

 a French collection. The price of the brochure is 2s.. and it may 

 be had from Rowland Ward Limited, 167 Piccadilly, London. 



A New Journal. — A small but significant ornithological 

 publication closely concerning Australians has been issued by Mr. 

 Gregory M. Mathews, who is also its editor. It is styled " The 

 Austral Avian Record : a Scientific Journal devoted primarily 

 to the Study of the Australian Avifauna." and is issued in con- 

 nection with Mr. Mathews' Austral Avian Museum, Watford, 

 Herts., England. The editorial note reads : — " While preparing 

 my ' Reference List to the Birds of Australia ' (now in the press). 

 I accumulated many notes of great interest regarding matters 

 that need investigation. In that Reference List I have shortly 

 indicated some of these matters, but detailed accounts could not 



