Vol. XXI. 

 1921 



] LE SOUEF, Birds at Bbor and Xidlarbor. 125 



before which every previous aUempt falls into the background, 

 should not meet with most liberal support, would be a reflectitJii 

 upon those patrons of ornithological science to whom "les 

 ouvrages de luxe" are welcome as additions of intrinsic value to 

 a noble library. It may be justly observed that these works have 

 already extended a taste for ornithology, not less by their merits 

 in a scientific point of view, than by the truthfulness, beauty, 

 and spirit of illustration.s — every plate serving as a first-rate copy 

 for those artistic branches of a family who wish to paint birds 

 as they should be painted, and not, as we usually see them in 

 albums, portfolios, and drawing books, vile caricatures of natvire. 

 To draw a bird %vcU is a task of some difficulty ; there are, in fact, 

 not many professed artists who can accomplish this, and herein 

 Mr. Gould's plates may serve as a study, or at least afford assist- 

 ance to those who would wish to do justice by their pencil to 

 these lovely forms of organic being. It is something to have ex- 

 tended a taste for ornithology, and a feeling for a pure and 

 artistic style of delineating the varied contour and plumage of 

 the feathered tribes, more to have contributed to science. 



We think it will be conceded that w^e have made good oui 

 assertion as to the great importance, not in a purely scientific 

 point -of view o;;/y, but as a means of defusing and elevating 

 taste, of Mr. Gould's publications, including those wdiich are still 

 in progress. No one can be blind to the boldness of the scheme 

 in its totality, the consummate style of illustration, the clearness 

 of description, and the splendour of the volumes which have 

 appeared. Nor can we overlook the interest produced by the 

 introduction to the world of so many new^ species, by the com- 

 lilete illustration of the ornithology of Europe, Asia, and Aus- 

 tralasia, and by monoc/raphs of some of the most attractive 

 groups — Toucans, Trogons, American Partridges, and Hum- 

 ming-birds, to which the attention of the lover of nature can 

 i)e directed. 



Notes on Birds Observed at Ebor and the 

 NuUarbor Plain 



By A. S. Le SOUEF, C.M.Z.S., R.A.O.U., State Secretary for 

 New South Wales. 

 W"hen crossing the great Nullarbor Plain last October, the 

 members of the Union who journeyed to the Perth Conference 

 were interested in seeing a number of Wedge-tailed Eagles, 

 Brown Hawks and Kites flying over the plain, and some specu- 

 lation was caused as to their food supply, for nothing was visible 

 from the train. On returning early in November, I stayed for 

 two days at Ooldea in order to investigate this question. The 

 j)reliminary inquiries indicated that numbers of native animals 

 would be found, and that rabbits were also in evidence. In order 

 to get further information, and also some notes on the life 

 history of such animals as were to be found, I spent last July 



