40 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIV. 



" The Useful Birds of Southern Australia." — Under the 

 above title, at the moderate price of 3s. 6d., Mr. T. C. Lothian 

 has pubhshed what is virtually a second edition of Mr. Robert 

 Hall's earlier work, " The Insectivorous Birds of Victoria," 

 thereby indicating that nature study is creating a demand for 

 handbooks. The volume is got up with an attractively coloured 

 cover, depicting some Blue Wrens on a spray of Leptospermum. 

 In the matter of illustrations, the work is an improvement on its 

 predecessor, as a large number of the plates are reproductions of 

 recent photographs by well-known bird observers. Additional 

 information has been included where necessary, as also a chapter 

 on introduced birds, and the work should prove of value to the 

 fruit-grower and agriculturist not less than the naturalist. Nearly 

 300 birds are dealt with, and we trust that its appearance 

 will lead to the collection of notes suitable for incorporation in 

 future editions. 



"The Fishes of Australia." — This is a popular account of 

 our Australian fishes by Mr. D. G. Stead, Naturalist to the Board 

 of Fisheries, New South Wales, and is intended to bring under 

 general notice the great wealth of our fisheries. After an intro- 

 duction of some twentv pages descriptive of the principal parts 

 of a fish, the colouration, and the systematic classification of 

 Australian fishes, about 250 pages are devoted to brief descriptions 

 and notes on the occurrence of the different species. Owing to 

 the want of unanimity in vernacular naming, this is sometimes 

 confusing ; however, it is well illustrated by full-page plates and 

 figures in the text. A final chapter is devoted to the fishing nets 

 used in New South Wales, with references to fish economics, the 

 parts usable, and their food value ; the whole forming an 

 extremely useful handbook. 



" Victoria : Place-Names and their Origin." — Such is the 

 title of a modest little volume of 72 pages just issued by Mr. J. 

 G. Saxon, as the result of years of patient research and inquiry. 

 The author's position in the Lands Department has afforded 'him 

 facilities for obtaining the information which he has now placed 

 in the hands of the public. Such a contribution to our scanty 

 historical literature must be of great value in years to come. 

 Some 1,500 or more references are given, and it is pleasing to 

 note that so many of our place-names are derived from the names 

 of places, trees, birds, &c., used by the aboriginals before the 

 advent of white men. The work is on sale at the popular price 

 of one shilling, and is well worthy of perusal. 



Microscopes. — Messrs. Watson and Sons, of 78 Swanston- 

 street, Melbourne, have recently issued a new edition of their 

 illustrated priced catalogue of microscopes and accessory appara- 

 tus, which can be had on application. 



