'■] 



From Magazines, &c. J J 



Some " Audubon " Work. — One of the most praiseworthy- 

 features of the work of the Audubon Societies of U.S.A. is the 

 constant endeavour they make to keep their aims before the 

 public. During the last year or so no less than lo "educational 

 leaflets," one of them (No. 3) in duplicate, and two introductory 

 pamphlets have been issued. These, though published one by 

 one in Bird-Lore, are intended for use in schools, and are 

 admirably adapted for the purpose. In the leaflets every 

 possible detail of each bird is given, all its known habits as well, 

 and the reasons why it should be protected. Eight of the 

 leaflets are from the pen of Mr. W. Dutcher, whose name is 

 recognized as that of an authority all over the world. One 

 preparatory leaflet (" Ornithology in Schools ") was written by 

 Mr. Wilson Tout as a paper for the Nebraska O.U., and the 

 first leaflet, on the Night-Hawk, is contributed by Mr. F. E. L. 

 Beal, Economic Ornithologist to the U.S.A. Department of 

 Agriculture. Most careful investigations have been made as to 

 the food of each species figured and described, and though the 

 results are presented in a statistical form, it is one which is 

 readily " understanded of the many." As Mr. Tout says, " the 

 small boy is one of the chief offenders," and we here in Aus- 

 tralasia should recognize the fact, and, in taking precautions 

 against his inroads, emulate the good example set by our North 

 American brethren. 



The Ibis for July (1904) contains an article "On the Birds 

 Collected by Mr. Robert Hall, of Melbourne, on the Banks of 

 the Lena River between Gigalowa and its Mouth," by Ernst 

 Hartert, Ph.D., F.Z.S., with an introduction and field notes 

 by Robert Hall, C.M.Z.S. Eighty-two species are catalogued, 

 and three interesting nesting-places, in situ, from photographs, 

 are given, but unfortunately the block depicting the nest of 

 Ember iza aureola has been placed upside down. 



In his preface Dr. Hartert states that " the collection made by 

 Mr. Hall on the Lena is of great interest, as our knowledge of 

 the details of distribution of birds in Siberia is very limited. It 

 is interesting to note the forms of the Upper Lena differ in some 

 cases from those of the lower portion of the river. Near Giga- 

 lowa forms inhabiting the Baikal district were found breeding, 

 while the specimens from further north are referable to the North 

 Siberian sub-species. 



" The journey having been rapidly made, and the collec- 

 tions having been entirely formed along the river, Mr. Hall 

 can only have obtained specimens of a portion of the birds 

 that inhabit that district of Eastern Siberia, and this is hardly 

 suf^cient to give us an idea of the avifauna, except so far as it 

 is exhibited in summer on the river bank. The skins are mostly 

 much worn and badly prepared, so that some difficulty often pre- 

 sents itself in making out the sub-species in question. Never- 



