Vol. II. 

 igo2 



1 From Magazines, &^c. 1^7 



it to be only a phase of the sub-species, P. assimilis. On a 

 previous occasion {Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol. xxiv., p. 472, 

 1889) I proved P. assimins to have only the third quill edged 

 with white (scarlet speculum), and the speculum may be yellow, 

 just as in the ' third and fourth quill ' phase. If this is really 

 so, and I see no reason to the contrary, there is nothing to dis- 

 tinguish it from P. affinis. Proof will doubtless be forthcoming 

 in support of my view, as specimens come in from time to time, 

 even if the delay is as long as in the finding of the specimen 

 under review. I shall then place P. affinis along with P. 

 assimilis!' 



Altogether, Mr. Hall's article, especially regarding descriptions 

 of fledglings and immature birds, is a valuable contribution to 

 ornithological research. 



Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, Director of the Pretoria Museum and 

 Zoological Gardens, sends lists of recent additions of mammals 

 and birds to the gardens. Among the latter the following 

 Australian species appear : — Winking Owl {Ninox connivens), 

 Chestnut-eared Finches {Tczniopygia castanotis), Spotted-sided 

 ¥mc\\GS {Staganopleura guttata), Long-tailed Finches {Poephila 

 acuticauda), " Parson " Finches {P. cincta), Gouldian Finches 

 {P.gouldicE), Banded Finch {Stictoptera bichenovii), Blue Mountain 

 Lorikeets {Trichoglossus novce-hollandice), Crested Pigeons 

 {OcypJiaps lophotes), Magpie Geese {Anseranas semipalviata). 

 Laughing Jackasses {Dacelo gigas}, two Emus (presented by the 

 late Right Hon. C. J. Rhodes), besides six Australian "Moonies, 

 whatever these may be. Dr. Gunning would be glad of any 

 exchanges with or donations to the Pretoria Gardens. 



Cockatoos as " Resistants." — A resident in the Northern 

 Territory, whose homestead is adjacent to a section of the over- 

 land telegraph line between the Katherine and Daly Waters 

 stations, explains in a recent letter the most frequent causes of 

 delay in the transmission of messages as follows : — " At present 

 (ist May) there is a frequent but brief loss of current taking 

 place, which has caused much annoyance and baffled the 

 authorities, because it occurs mostly in the morning and evening. 

 Operators sent from the two stations to investigate have 

 discovered that Cockatoos (Galahs), which frequent a pool of 

 water near the spot where the leakage is located, perch on the 

 top telegraph wire, and. Parrot-like, use their beaks upon the 

 second, but only for a moment ; with a shrill cry they take 

 flight. In the meantime, however, the current has escaped, and 

 if a message were going through its continuity was broken." — 

 The Argus, 4/6/02. 



