^°'- '^-l F7^om Map-azmes, &^c. I I ^ 



iqo2 J A 5 U 



good as naming a new species. But is it wise to correct a 

 mistake that has lasted for a century and a quarter and by usage 

 has become accepted ? Any alteration of nomenclature of such 

 a common species as the familiar Blue Wren will surely lead to 

 confusion, except, perhaps, amongst cabinet workers. 



* * * 



Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. — 

 A volume (1900-01) recently issued contains a "Systematic 

 List of Tasmanian Birds," by Colonel W. V. Legge, F.Z.S., &c.. 

 President of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



In 1886 a "Systematic List" was drawn up by Colonel 

 Legge, the various orders, families, and sub-families into which 

 the Tasmanian birds were divided being classified on the same 

 system as that adopted in his " Birds of Ceylon." That list has 

 now been revised, and the universally received nomenclature of 

 the "British Museum Catalogue" employed, while the ver- 

 nacular names adopted are from the Australasian Science 

 Association's List (1898). 



Li his introductory remarks Colonel Legge drops an interest- 

 ing hint. The Tit found by Gould in Tasmania, and named 

 after the Rev. J. T. Ewing {Acanthiza ewingi), has since 

 been considered identical with the well-known "Brown-tail" 

 {A. dienienensis) ; but Colonel Legge is of opinion that the fact 

 of the species being identical has not been established, as further 

 research may lead to the re-discovery of the Ewing Tit. 



The list, which enumerates three species short of 200, should 

 prove a useful reference, not only to Tasmanian workers, but to 

 Australians. Who is the forthcoming ornithologist to write the 

 " history " of the 197 species through Tasmanian spectacles ? 



* * * 



" Queensland Birds, Partly or Wholly Insectivorous," is the 

 title of a paper contributed by Mr. Kendall Broadbent, of the 

 Queensland Museum staff, to the Proceedings and Transactions 

 Royal Geographical Society of Australia (Q.), vol. xvii. 



The list mentions over 300 species of birds, arranged in 

 parallel columns, under " Common name," " Scientific name," 

 and " Geographical range," with various footnotes, references 

 showing whether the birds feed on " small mammals, reptiles, 

 and insects," " insects and scrub shells," " fruit and insects," 

 " fruit and seeds," &c. 



Mr. Broadbent is sound generally in his scientific nomen- 

 clature, but his long and varied experience collecting in 

 the bush has apparently led him into some bush or local 

 phraseology regarding many vernacular names. The following 

 may be cited as examples : — " Creek Kingfisher " for the Blue or 

 Azure Kingfisher ; " Chinchilla Diamond-Bird " for the Tarda- 

 lotus assimilisy which is found in other localities from Queens- 

 land to Victoria ; " Cardwell Diamond-Bird " for P. affinisy of 



