THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 159 



when feeding in the paddocks, and one day I noticed a cow's tail 

 extended straight out, with a Myna perched upon it pecking 

 vigorously away. 



As for the Sparrow, one little deed of daring transacted last 

 November shows his cool nature. My friend, Mr. Lyons, informs 

 me that near Geelong, in Queen's Park, on the Barwon River, 

 there is a eucalyptus tree with a hollow, spouted branch. On 

 the under side is a broad crevice leading into the cavity, and in 

 the hole the sparrows have built a nest, just in front of a bees' 

 nest. While the bees come and go through the broader entrance 

 the sparrows use the narrow one, and both for the same des- 

 tination, evidently with a peaceable arrangement. 



I will conclude with a brief recapitulation of the birds dealt 

 with in these notes. Altogether 113 species, including the intro- 

 duced birds, have been referred to, besides which there are some 

 10 species which are only very casual visitors. Approximately, 

 43 of these reside with us all the year round, while 70 are 

 migrants, arriving here with the advent of spring. Sixty species 

 have been found breeding here. Grouping them according to 

 their rarity, I would say that 42 are common, 43 less common, 

 and 28 rare. Birds of prey are represented by 8 species ; 

 passerine birds, 88 ; parrots, 9 ; pigeons, i ; game birds, 2 ; 

 hemipodes, i ; and waders, 5. 



Should any lover of birds wish to refer to them, I would add 

 that the previous papers of the series are to be found in the 

 Victorian Naturalist, vol. xii., pp. 127, 143; xiii., p. 103 ; xiv., 

 PP- 53. 69, 123, 154; and xv., pp. 70, 75, and 127. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



VERNACULAR NAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — Mr. A. J. North is to be thanked for drawing attention to 

 the Science Association's " List of Vernacular Names for Aus- 

 tralian Birds." That list undoubtedly marks a new epoch in 

 Australian ornithology. 



I quite agree with Mr. North that his name (as well as the 

 names of several other gentlemen who took no part in the com- 

 pilation of the list) should not have appeared at the head of the 

 " report." But why Mr. North, above all Australian ornitholo- 

 gists, should have refused (after having been thrice asked) to 

 give the sub-committee his intelligent co-operation is a mystery 

 to some of his best friends. 



