EDITORIAL NOTE. 



The third volume of The Emu is now complete. During the 

 three years of its existence the career of the Australasian Orni- 

 thologists' Union has been one of steady and uninterrupted 

 progress. Its success has been largely due to the support of 

 those members who guaranteed subscriptions for the term 

 named, who, it is to be hoped, will continue their invaluable 

 help. In that case it may be possible to realize an aim the 

 editors have had in view from the inception of The Emu — to 

 give it a higher scientific tone, one more on a level with the 

 highest class of ornithological magazines of the world. But to 

 gain this end members must, as heretofore, give whole-hearted 

 support by forwarding contributions, while not forgetting the 

 very necessary subscriptions. According to the food (material 

 aid) the natural Emu receives, so will its dress appear — lustrous 

 or otherwise. The same with the literary Emu. What doings 

 of the Austral Union this journal may yet record ! Besides the 

 primary plank — the scientific study of the avifauna — there are 

 other great considerations well worthy of attention : traffic in 

 birds, their wanton destruction, their national value, especially 

 to the farmer, orchardist, &c, not to mention their aesthetic 

 bearing, without which the sum total of human happiness can 

 never be complete. 



NOTE. — It would greatly assist the editors if contributors, when for- 

 warding MSS., would kindly give both scientific and vernacular names of 

 birds. 



