8o Barrett, Additions to the Library. [isf "lui ■ 



"to be," for they are a growing part of the hving language. 

 The name must be " simple, easily said, descriptive, short, and 

 is much stronger if in some way it ties up the bird's character- 

 istics with familiar ideas." Such " clumsy names " as " White- 

 throated Sparrow " and " Black-and- White Warbler," and 

 " absurd pedantries " like " Pileolated Warbler " and " Pro- 

 tonotary Warbler " are condemned. In summing up, Mr. Thompson 

 Seton says : — " I take it that the business of ornithology is, first, 

 to accumulate correct information about birds and then to diffuse 

 it among the people. If the ornithologists had set out definitely 

 to build an eternal barrier to popular interest in birds they could 

 not have done it better than by establishing such impossible 

 names as are cited above. They never were, and never could be, 

 English names." 



About Members. 



Before leaving Perth (W.A.) for England at the end of July, 

 Mr. Tom Carter, M.B.O.U., intended to have a " parting shot " 

 in the historic Shark Bay district, intending to leave Fremantle 

 on 30th April ; but the local strike dislocated all shipping, and 

 up to the 13th May the steamer had not started. Mr. Carter, 

 therefore, had reluctantly to abandon his trip north. All members 

 will sympathize with Mr. Carter in his keen disappointment for 

 further field research in such an interesting region, and heartily 

 wish him bon voyage. 



* * * 



"In Australian \\'ilds " is the title of a new book by Mr. 

 Charles Barrett. C.M.Z.S., to be published shortly by the Mel- 

 bourne Publishing Co. It will contain 100 illustrations from 

 photographs by the author, the majority being of birds. Some 

 of the chapters deal with experiences during R.A.O.U. camps in 

 the different States ; others describe the author's trips with only 

 a guide, white man or aborigine, for company. Another book by 

 Mr. Barrett, written while he was on active service, is being 

 published in Cairo. " Egyptian Hours " deals with phases of 

 nature in Upper and Lower Egypt and Palestine. The illustra- 

 tions are from drawings by a member of the Royal Air Force. 



Honour Roll. 



The Council of the R.A.O.U. has decided to hang in the Union's 

 room an Honour Roll, on which will be inscribed the names of all 

 members who served in the Great War. Will members who 

 enlisted kindly furnish the secretary with their full names, and 

 state what rank they held, what distinctions (if any) were gained, 

 and other particulars of interest. All interested are invited to 

 assist in making the record complete. 



