r, • r Emu 



1 20 Reviews. List Oct. 



reliable collector has observed the bird in that State.* And, 

 strangely enough, while cleverly arguing that O. affinis of 

 Northern Australia is merely a smaller form of O. sagittatus 

 iyiridis), and should be " lumped " with that species, he has 

 omitted North-Western Australia and Northern Territory, in the 

 proper place, from the " distribution." 



In aiding ornithologists to unravel certain knotty points Mr. 

 North's labours (with a national collection at his back) are 

 exceedingly helpful. Writing, for instance, on the Oriole, he 

 states : — 



" In the 'Catalogue of Birds in the Bristish Museum' Dr. Sharpe does not 

 regard either Oriolus affinis or Collyriocincla parvissiina as distinct species, 

 although the learned author ranks several of our Australian birds as good 

 species on less slender grounds. Authorities are divided in opinion as to 

 what is a sufficient character to constitute a species or sub-species, and have 

 been classed as either 'lumpers' or 'splitters.' Personally I favour the 

 former, for in a large island-continent like Australia, where geographical 

 distribution and climatic influence are such important factors in the character 

 of a species, it would render the study of birds impossible if each tinge or 

 shade in colour of plumage from different latitudes were accorded sub- 

 specific distinction. During a period of 12 years I have characterized three 

 very distinct sub-species, but were I to separate from different localities each 

 race that varies from the average type in size and depth of colour, the 

 described Australian forms would be considerably more than twice the 

 number they are at present. To do so, however, ornithologists, without the 

 aid of a specimen being properly localized, and of a large reference collection 

 only to be found in a museum, and possibly a few private collections, would 

 be hopelessly involved in trying to distinguish the various climatic forms of 

 a species. Taking Oriolus sagittatus as an example, one would pick out 

 three distinct races from the typical form. An examination of a large series 

 from different latitudes would prove, however, that they gradually merge 

 into one another. Leaving the increase in the length of bill out of the 

 question, the decrease in the white terminal marking of the tail feathers is 

 shown on the preceding page from a photograph of the tails of two fully 

 adult males obtained in widely separated localities." 



It will be noted with satisfaction that Mr. North is adopting 

 many of the vernacular names mentioned in the Australasian 

 Science Association's List (1898), but it is quite unnecessary to 

 excuse himself for doing so in some cases because he found 

 (like the committee who drew up the list) they had already been 

 used by earlier authorities. 



* * * 



" The Birds of My Parish," by the Rev. Evelyn H. Pollard 

 (John Lane, the Bodley Head, London and New York, 1890), is 

 by no means a new book, but is one that retains its freshness, 

 and will repay every bird-lover's reading. It is also a good 

 example of what is being done by modern writers to popularize 

 natural history. Within a limit of 1,600 acres (a small holding in 

 some parts of Australia) this disciple of Gilbert White has found 

 material for a most interesting volume, recording the " doings 

 and sayings " of the ']6 birds observed and studied. These are 



* " Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds" (Campbell), p. 82. 



