142 From Magazines, &c. rsth"j"n 



distinguish with ease the sexes of many species which have 

 hitherto been doubtfully, or even incorrectly, determined by 

 collectors and taxidermists." The suggestion seems well worth 

 adopting. For an exemplification of what such a mode of ex- 

 amining the wings really means one has only to refer to The 

 Ibis (July, 1903, pp. 446-451), where extended wings of male 

 and female Lapwings are figured and fully described. Mr. F. W. 

 Frohawk, M.B.O.U., F.E.S., in this article, says : — " During 

 flight the sexes may easily be distinguished by the great difterence 

 of wing formation," and a glance at the illustrations given shows 

 marked differences. 



The International Catalogue of Scientific Literature. — 

 An undertaking which shows how, on proper occasion, scientists 

 can work together is presented by this work. No part of it 

 has yet been forwarded for review, hence it is necessary to fall 

 back on information gathered from other sources. The Auk 

 (vol. xxi., 1904, pp. 494-501) contains a good summary of what 

 has been done and is doing in the matter. There it is explained 

 that " the supreme control of the Catalogue is vested in an 

 international convention, which is to meet in London in 1905, 

 1 910, and every tenth year afterwards, to reconsider, and, if 

 necessary, to revise the regulations for carrying out the work 

 of the catalogue, &c." The materials are to be furnished by 

 regional bureaux, which already number 30. Volume N of the 

 series is devoted to ornithology, and embraces " New Genera 

 and Species," " Geographical Distribution," &c. Structure, 

 development, physiology, ethnology, variation, and aetiology, 

 geographical distribution, and " taxonomy and systematic " are 

 the headings under which presently available information is 

 ranged. A hasty glance through one or two of the numbers 

 shows that it is a work which every naturalist would be the 



better for possessing. 



* * * 



" Tasmania, OrnitholoCTically Considered," is the title of an 

 article by Mr. Frank M. Littler, F.E.S., contributed to The 

 Zoologist (September, 1904). The article, which is based on 

 the writer's own field observations, written in a pleasant and 

 popular style, deals with the more common bush birds, while 

 at the end is a systematic list of all the known Tasmanian birds. 

 Mr. Littler is inclined to the opinion that, as the knowledge of 

 the Australian ornis extends, M alums cyaneus, M. goiddi , and 

 M. elizabethcB will be grouped under one specific name. If so, 

 then the same rule will apply to a dozen other Australian genera. 

 Another of Mr. Littler's notes states : — " In no list can I find 

 mention of any member of the family CerthiidcB being found 

 in Tasmania. I have met with both the White-throated Tree- 

 creeper {Climaeteris leueophcBo) and the Brown Tree-creeper 

 {C. scanclciis) in some of the heavily timbered forests in the 



