THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 131 



of Strips of bark, outwardly protected by twigs, and lined 

 inside with grass and a few rootlets ; situated in a slight hollow 

 scraped in the ground, in thick wattle (acacia) scrub. Dimen- 

 sions over all, 7-8 inches ; egg cavity, 3 inches across by 2 inches 

 deep.— A. J. Campbell. 30/1/99. 



CORRESPON DENCE. 



VERNACULAR NAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN BIRDS— 

 A DISCLAIMER. 



To tlie Editor of the Vicloriaii Naturalist. 



Sir, — In a recently published " List of Vernacular Names for 

 Australian Birds,"* my name appears as a member of a com- 

 mittee with whose approval this list was drawn up. This 

 is incorrect — I have had nothing to do with it in any shape 

 or form. Equally misleading is the statement that I delegated, 

 or authorized anyone else to delegate, my power to two 

 members of this committee when passing on the list to Mr. 

 C. W. De Vis in December, 1894. On my receipt of the list 

 I forwarded it to Mr. De Vis, with a notification that, in common 

 with others named as members of this committee in New South 

 Wales, I declined to accept a position on it. Consequently I 

 have never possessed any power to delegate. My name has been 

 published as a member of this committee against my will, and 

 after my expressed wish in writing to have it removed. Owing 

 to the false impression prevailing by the inclusion of my name on 

 this committee I have recently received a communication asking 

 why certain species are omitted from this list, and questioning the 

 validity of others admitted into it. Another writer takes exception 

 to many of the proposed vernacular names. To prevent similar 

 mistakes arising in future, I take this opportunity of disclaiming 

 any share in the production of this list, either personally or by 

 deputy. 



A. J. NORTH. 

 Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 nth January, 1899. 



NOTES. 



Mushroom. — A fine mushroom, in perfect condition, was 

 found in December last by Lieutenant-Colonel Heath, of Heath- 

 field, Apollo Bay. It weighed 2% lbs., and measured 

 2 feet 7 inches in circumference, while its greatest diameter was 

 10 inches. So fine a mushroom so late in the year is an 

 exception 



* " Report on List of Vernacular Names for Australian Birds," Australasian 

 Association for the Advancenaent of Science, Sydney session, 1898, 



