26 From Magazines. &c. \ 5"}"i 



■=• ' List July 



and on calm days I iind the wi no-beats in this species average 

 about I (So to the minute. . . . Laboratory experiments 

 abroad, with harnessed birds, show that the wing-beats of a 

 Sparrow are 780 a minute, of a Duck 540, of a Pigeon 480, and 

 so on." Dr. Dwight points out that this is an ahiiost un- 

 touched field of study, and everyone will agree that bird-flight, 

 both in this and other phases, presents some most interesting- 

 problems. 



* * * 



Bird Protfxtion Abroad.— Contrasting the measures adopted 

 for bird protection in New Zealand with those provided in the 

 U.S.A., Mr. T. S. Palmer {Bird-Lore, Jan.-Feb., 1904, p. 36) 

 says of the latter : — " In marked contrast with our practice, she 

 has found it advantageous, in spite of her varied climatic con- 

 ditions, to have a uniform open season of moderate length for 

 all game, instead of seasons of varying length extending over 

 eight or nine months for difterent birds. Spring shooting is 

 thus done away with, and more eftectual protection given to 

 migratory shore-birds and water-fowl than is possible under our 

 present laws." But what as to other birds ? Will not most 

 observers think that ;i modification of the zone system is better 

 for Australasia ? 



* * * 



St. Kilda and its Birds.— In a lecture delivered before the 

 Liverpool Biological Society by Dr. J. Wiglesworth, F.R.C.P., 

 M.B.O.U., and which has been published in book form, with 

 some good photo, illustrations, the author describes the little 

 island oft the coast of Inverness-shire. Not only are the in- 

 habitants of historic Hirta depicted, and their mode of life 

 described, but a list of its birds, notes on their habits, &c., are 

 given. Beyond the fact that at one time a large proportion 

 of the islanders migrated to Australia, the book will possess 

 interest for local readers from the fact that it deals with, amongst 

 the 25 species listed, such birds as Gannets, Fulmars, Cormorants, 

 Gulls, &c. The publication was kindly lent for review by Mr. 



D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S. 



* * * 



Honey-eaters in Captivity. — In a recent number of the 

 Avicultural Magazine is given an article (illustrated with some 

 very good photo.-prints) dealing with the interesting experiment 

 which Dr. and Mrs. G. Home, and their niece (Miss Bowie) 

 have been carrying out for some time with many species of 

 these birds. Their success has been great. Many forms have 

 become so familiarized to their new surroundings (an aviary 

 in which living shrubs are grown) that they look on human 

 visitors as friends, and boldly endeavour to extract their favourite 

 food from flowers which the visitors wear. There are many 

 points in bird life which can only be studied when birds are 

 under such close observation as is possible in a case of tliis kind, 



