244 From Magazines, &c. [ 2 „d April 



lifting from the mere renaming of a few handfuls of skin and 

 feathers. . . . We confuse nomenclature and ornithology, 

 forgetful that the names, which should be the tools of the ornith- 

 ologist, may easily become the playthings of the systematise 

 . There is more serious work on hand than the naming 

 of sub-species if the advance of ornithology is to keep pace with 

 that of kindred sciences." 



Close Season for Native Game in Victoria. 



REFERENCE was made in the last issue of The Emu (pp. 198-9) 

 to the alteration of close seasons for Ducks and Quails in Victoria, 

 and pointing out that an egregious blunder had been made. 



The Government, having the courage of its opinion, be it said 

 to its credit, now admits that a serious mistake was made in 

 opening the shooting season for these birds earlier than usual. 

 It is too late to remedy the evil this season, as far as Ducks are 

 concerned, but in future the close season will extend until the 

 end of January, while it will be illegal to shoot Quails in any part 

 of Victoria before the 1st April. 



Dr. T. J. Ryan, Nhill, a keen sportsman and observer of bird- 

 life, states that it has been a most exceptional year for birds of all 

 kinds in the Wimmera district, and, on that account, instead of 

 opening the season earlier, from a national point of view it would 

 have been better to have had no open season this year ; thereby 

 native game would have enjoyed a great chance of multiplication. 

 This very excellent suggestion in favour of the birds may commend 

 itself to the Government the next prolific season there is for bird- 

 life in the State. 



The Government of the day may always rely on the hearty 

 co-operation of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union, and 

 doubtless of other associations having kindred aims, in the 

 matter of the proper protection of birds. 



Correspondence. 



ANOMALOUS CLOSE SEASONS. 

 To the Editors of The Emu. 

 SIRS, — Reverting to the close season for Duck in New 7 South Wales, 

 it will be seen in The Emu , vol. ii., p. 194, in the comparative table 

 of " close seasons " for game in the different States, that Ducks 

 are protected from 1st August to 31st January, but on my 

 arrival in the Riverina district I was surprised to find that 

 Duck-shooting was in full blast on the 28th December. The 

 ocal Game Inspector stated that the New South Wales Act 

 permitted shooting on that date. Who is correct ? Many 

 Ducklings a few days old were seen, particularly Black Ducklings, 

 and large numbers of " flappers " were in evidence, as is usual at 

 that time of year. — I am, &c, 



A. MATTINGLEY. 

 Melbourne, 1/2/04. 



