30 from Maiiaziucs, &c. [xsPjuiy 



sentiment in favour of bird proteetion." One of the most 

 important advances during tlie year lias been an agreement 

 arrived at between the members of the. Millinery Merchants' 

 Protective Association and the bird Unions, by which the former 

 undertakes to discourage the use of the plumage of many specified 

 birds, either native or imported. The Audubon Societies and 

 the A.O.U. undertake to prevent illegal interference with the 

 millinery trade and to refrain from aiding the passage of laws 

 which would hinder the use or sale of feathers from domesticated 

 fowls or those mentioned in a list given. Steps have been taken 

 to protect the fast-diminishing game birds of even such outlying- 

 possessions as the Philippine and Midway Islands. As is the 

 case between our own States — Victoria and New South Wales, 

 for instance — anomalies in the Game (sometimes non-game) Laws 

 cause trouble, and the matter of a border-line presents a serious 

 difficulty. Efforts are being made to remedy this, as they should 

 be here. From many of the States the sentiment against the 

 useless destruction of bird life is reported as growing, and the 

 whole movement in favour of bird protection seems alive. In 

 some cases States have gone so far as to " limit the bag which 

 anyone may make in a day." Mr. Butcher's report is accom- 

 panied by some very good half-tone illustrations. 



Review. 



'• CATALOGUE OF BIRDS' EGGS. 



The catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British 

 Museum has reached its third volume. Owing to the un- 

 fortunate ill-health of Mr. Oates, the Museum authorities have 

 found it necessary to invite the co-operation of the well-known 

 ornithologist. Captain Savile Reid, to complete the "Catalogue." 

 Captain Reid revised the manuscript of Mr. Oates and the 

 proof sheets. 



The third volume is continuing from the Psittaci formes to 

 the end of the family Pycnonotidce of the order Passcri formes, 

 corresponding with the orders in vols. ii. and iii. in the 

 " Hand-List of the Genera and Species of Birds " by Dr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe. Nine hundred and seven species of eggs are carefully 

 catalogued and described, of which number over lOO are Aus- 

 tralian, I I of them being figured in the beautifully coloured 

 plates (I. to X.) The following five .species are figured for the 

 first time, namely : — Pctra^ca pha'uicca (Flame-breasted Robin), 

 P. rhodinogastcr (Pink-breasted Robin), P . vittata (Dusky Robin), 

 Pcecilodryas capito (Large-headed Robin), and Graucaliis parvi- 

 rostris (Small-billed Cuckoo-Shrike). One new description of 

 especial interest pertains to the Spine-tailed Swift {ChcBtura 

 caudacuta), called the Siberian Spine-tailed Swift, two eggs 

 having come through the " Crowley Bequest," collected at 

 Sega, "N. Mongolia, by A. Riickheil. The dimensions furnished 

 are 1.22 x .75 and 1.2 x .75 inches, the colour, of course, being 



