46 Keartland, Bird Life on Fraser Island. [voT'^^xxxiii. 



gibherifrons, were resting at the water's edge. A Mountain 

 Duck, Casarca tadovnoidcs, appeared to be nesting somewhere 

 near, as it came each morning to feed or swim amongst the 

 Swans. Wood Duck, Chenonetta juhata, and White -eyed Duck, 

 Nyroca australis, were fairly numerous. On the margin of 

 the water-holes were several Black-fronted Dottrel, Mgialitis 

 melanops, running backwards and forwards, picking their food 

 out of the mud. But the Red-capped Dottrel, Mgialitis rufi- 

 capilla, confined itself to the sandy margin of the river. 



In addition to the foregoing birds, I was informed that the 

 island is occasionally visited by the Black Cockatoo, Calypto- 

 rhynchus fimereus, Gang-Gang Cockatoo, CaUocephalon galeahmi. 

 Musk Lorikeet, Glos sop sift acus concinnus, and Blue Mountain 

 Parrakeet, Trichoglossus novcB-hoUandicB. 



Of introduced birds, the Starling, Sparrow, and Goldfinch 

 were apparently quite at home. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



THE F.N.C. AND THE WAR LOAN. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist, 



Sir, — During the discussion of the annual report at last 

 meeting of the Club, Professor Ewart mentioned the desirability 

 of devoting a considerable portion of the Club's reserve fund 

 to the binding of the periodical hterature. I am quite in agree- 

 ment with him in the view that neglect of this work renders 

 the literature uninviting to the casual reader and inconvenient 

 to the specialist searching for records and other data. In 

 time of peace I would say that the money could not be used 

 to better advantage. I would suggest that, as the Government 

 is inviting both large and small contributions to the War Loan, 

 we should devote an amount — say ^^50 — of our accumulated 

 and (except for the interest it earns) dormant fund to the 

 national cause. There can be little objection to this, even as 

 a business proposition, and I feel sure that Professor Ewart 

 will be quite ready to second the proposal, even though the 

 library should in consequence languish a little longer. In these 

 strenuous times the books are not so much consulted as hereto- 

 fore, and are not likely to be in increased demand in the 

 immediate future. While not forgetful of the* fact that with- 

 drawal of bank deposits lessens the amount of participation 

 by the banks themselves, we, by direct lending, may have the 

 gratification of thus making a certainty of assisting in the 

 Empire's cause, even in a small way, but according to our 

 means. — Faithfully yours, A. D. HARDY. 



Kew, 14/6/16. 



