100 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



points out, among other things, how much more good than harm 

 magpies are accountable for, and generally advocates greater 

 protection to bird life. One of the co-editors, Mr. H. Kendall, 

 contributes a somewhat laboured sketch, " Amongst Returnmg 

 Birds." Mr. W. M'llwraith, of Rockhampton, reports that the 

 familiar Black and White Fan-tail has taken up the duty of 

 clearing infested cows of ticks in that district. Mr. Edw. A. 

 Petherick, F.L.S., of London, forwards some interesting extracts 

 from " Letters by James Backhouse," in whicli some notes are 

 given of the bird-life of Port Phillip in 1837. Reviews and notes 

 help to complete a thirty-two page journal in which bird-lovers 

 will find much that is interesting, but we fear that the price at 

 which the magazine is offered to the public will greatly limit its 

 sale, and therefore its usefulness. 



Sword-fish in Port Phillip. — A rare capture was recently 

 made by some fishermen at Sandringham in the shape of a good- 

 sized Sword-fish, Xiphias gladius. The specimen, which 

 measured about seven feet in length, was very much injured 

 about the body from wounds received during its capture, and the 

 sword was also unfortunately broken off about 15 inches from the 

 base. This is, I believe, the first record for this fish in Victorian 

 waters. As is well known, the Sword-fish frequently attacks the 

 whale, and, curiously enough, its capture occurred about the same 

 time as the announcement of the presence of a large whale and 

 calf in the bay. — Jas. A. Kershaw, National Museum. 



Nature Study. — So much prominence is being given at the 

 present time to the protection of our native birds that it is 

 pleasing to note that the Education Department has arranged for 

 the delivery of a course of six lectures on " Bird Life and the 

 Birds of Victoria," to the teachers at the Training College, 

 Carlton. This will be undertaken by Mr. Robert Hall, a 

 prominent member of the Field Naturalists' Club, who is well 

 known as an enthusiastic observer of bird life. It is hoped by 

 this means to stimulate the interest of the school teachers in the 

 birds of the State and their value to the agriculturist, &c., and 

 that they in their turn will influence the pupils under their charge, 

 and so check the inherent desire for the destruction of nests 

 and eggs which seems to possess the mind of the average school- 

 boy. [After delivering one lecture, Mr. Hall had to leave for 

 Brisbane, sooner than expected, when Mr. D. Le Souef kindly 

 undertook to complete the series. — Ed. Vict. NaL'\ 



Personal. — VVe learn that Mr. Robert Hall, whose ornitho- 

 logical work is well known, has accepted a three months' engage- 

 ment as assistant at the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, with the 

 probability of an extension at the end of that time. We wish 

 Mr. Hall every success in his new and, to him, congenial 

 occupation, and feel sure that his absence from the monthly 

 meetings and rambles of the Field Naturalists' Club will be noted 

 by many of its members. 



