62 Book Notices. f^'^jui?^'" 



plates are dainty specimens of Mrs. Ellis Rowan's work, and arc 

 devoted to some of our gayer-plumaged birds, such as the 

 r;arrots, finches, honey-eaters, warblers, and bower-birds. The 

 systematic arrangement adopted is that of Sharpe's " Hand-list 

 of Birds," adapted to Australian birds by Mr. Gregory Mathews 

 {Emu, 1908). When necessary, other publications have been 

 levied on for information and illustrations, among them the 

 Victorian Naturalist. Unfortunately, to bring the work within 

 a reasonable compass, as every Australian bird is recorded, only 

 a limited amount of space could be given to popular remarks 

 about some of the more remarkable species. The general plan 

 of the work is to take each order in succession, give a key to the 

 different genera; take each genus, and give a key to the various 

 species, then add any additional description necessary under 

 each bird, such as its range, the prominent features in its 

 plumage, its measurements, and, in some cases, a description of 

 the nest and size of the eggs. The volume is well indexed, in 

 various ways. The table of contents lists the birds under their 

 ordinary group names, the vernacular index extends to ten 

 pages (double columns), an index of scientific names fourteen 

 pages (also double column), and a systematic table of twenty- 

 three pages, which again includes the vernacular names, and is 

 itself indexed, so that the student should have no difficulty in 

 turning to any species required. A useful chapter on the birds 

 which have been introduced and liberated in Australia is 

 included. The volume has been splendidly produced on heavy 

 paper, well calendered, and weighs 2| lbs. The work is one that 

 Australians should be proud of, and those who cannot afford tlie 

 magnificent work now being issued by Mr. Gregory Mathews 

 will find in it an efficient substitute. No fault can be found 

 with the printing, and we trust the enterprise of the publishers 

 will have its due reward. The volume should find a place on 

 every naturalist's bookshelf and in every public library through- 

 out the Commonwealth. 



An Australian Bird Book. By J. A. Leach, M.Sc, Organizing 

 Inspector of Nature Study, Education Department, Victoria. 

 With map and 93 plates (20 in colours). 204 pp. (7^ x 5). 

 Melbourne : Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. Price, 3s. 6d. 



The author of this little volume, designed specially as " a pocket 

 book for field use," has succeeded in producing probably the 

 most unique bird book yet published. The success of the 

 author's " Descriptive List of the Birds Native to Victoria," 

 published by the Education Department about two years ago, 

 led to a series of illustrated articles in the Education Gazette and 

 Teachers' Aid (Education Department, Victoria), which were 

 also greatly appreciated. In his latest effort Mr. Leach, while 



