240 Notes and Notices. Tisffan" 



to see the way the pea rifle was being used on them. My asso- 

 ciation is out to preserve the bird Hfe on these islands, and help 

 our Central district to retain its bird wealth. The interests of 

 bird protection will now be advanced a stej) further, and it is 

 hoped that campers will make a note that the new regulations 

 issued for .shooting or interfering with birds in future on the 

 islands will bring a heavv penalty. — From The Morninq Bulletin, 

 Rockhampton. 10/9/21'. 



* * * 



The R.A.O.U. and kindred bodies received a good advertise- 

 ment through the State Secretary for Queensland, when the new 

 Animals and Birds Bill was being considered recently by the Par- 

 liament of the big Northern State. The Minister for .Agricul- 

 ture (Hon. W. N. Gillies), in introducing the measure to the 

 Legislative Assembly, returned hearty thanks to Mr. Chisholm 

 and other naturalists for their assistance, and complimented them 

 on their perseverance in the interests of native birds and animals. 

 The leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. J. Vowles), whom many 

 members of the R.A.O.U. met at Dalby in 1919, joined in the 

 personal appreciation, as did also the Hon. J. G. Appel. There 

 was very little debate on the measure in the Legislative Council, 

 but Hansard for that Chamber reports that the Hon. Randolph 

 Bedford, M.L.C., described Mr. Chisholm as "a great bird-lover 

 and very excellent Australian," and one whose work "deserves 

 something in the way of recognition by the Council." 



* * * 



Visitors to Australia are frequently able to assist materially 

 in the campaign for better appreciation of Australian fauna. 

 Notable cases in point have been those of Sir Arthur Conan 

 Doyle and Lord Northclifife, both of whom made strong public 

 pleas for the safeguarding of the unique birds, animals, and 

 plants of the Commonwealth. Viscount Northclifl^e was par- 

 ticularly interested in the work of Mr. Harry Burrell, R.A.O.U., 

 among monotremes, and stated that the hour or so he spent with 

 the New South Wales naturalist was one of the most interesting 

 of his life. What Sir Conan Doyle thinks of the fauna of this 

 land becomes apparent in his new book, "The Wanderings of a 

 Spiritualist." Numerous impressions of bird-life are given, and 

 the author confesses that a certain Victorian marshland, where 

 he stole out to listen to water-fowl at night, will always be to him 

 "the real Australia." Incidentally, Sir Conan Doyle pays cor- 

 dial tribute to the work of two South .\ustralian ornithologists. 

 Captain S. A. White (State Secretary of the R.A.O.U.), and 

 Mr. T. P. Bellchambers, and also to the State Secretary for 

 Queensland, Mr. A. H. Chisholm. 



* * ♦ 



For various reasons, including a wealth of scientific material 

 due to the enterprise and generosity of Mr. H. L. White, publi- 

 cation was delaved until laiuiarv 14th, 1022. 



