x " l l , 1 i. ; xx | Recent Lite dure. 445 



These parte of Mr. Mathews' work fully maintain the standard of their 

 predecessor We note with regrel thai while carefully designating type 

 species for his new genera he still neglects to cite type specimens for his 

 new Bpecies or subspecies. \V. S. 



Official Check-List of the Birds of Australia. 1 — A Committee 

 of tin' Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union has been al work on a 

 Check List of the birds of Australia for the past ten years. It is natural 

 therefore that the resull of their long deliberations which is it last before 

 ue should have been looked forward to with considerable interest. How- 

 ever it may appeal to Australian bird students, it, must, certainly he dis- 

 appointing to progressive ornithologists in other parts of the world. 



The Committee carries the principal of priority for genera, species and 

 Subspecies, no further hack than the ' works ' of John Gould 'entitled, 



"The Birds of Australia."' Gould's names however are superseded (a) 

 " where they were preoccupied in some other branch of zoology, (6) where 



then' had lieen ; t clear mis-ident ilicat ion of ext ra-limit al and other forms, 

 (c) where in the ligh1 of later knowledge genera had been rejected or new 

 genera created, and (d) manifest errors." For admit led genera, species 

 and subspecies described since the dates of the re.speef.ive issues of Gould's 



works, and prior to the dates of the British Museum Catalogue of Birds, 



the names of the latter work are adopted suhjoct, to the above exceptions, 

 while for admitted genera, etc., described later, the name used hy the 

 author has heen " as far as possible accepted." Along with t his we have a 



statement that a binomial nomenclature is used throughout, anil that 

 "all modifications of species ranging to and comprehending subspecies 



are broughl into classification and named, hut geographical races are not so, 

 unless such modifications present, some material distinguishable differ- 

 ences." 



These principles we think constitute the most remarkable 'Code of No- 

 menclature' that has heen framed ill recent times. 



The Committee would have accomplished its purpose and have freed 

 itself from much adverse criticism if it had adopted (lie suggestion of Sir 



E. Ray Lankester, which is quoted on p. 13, and simply presented an ' au- 

 thoritative list of names ' without attempting to cite any rules or explana- 

 tions. 



As it is, the members seem to have failed utterly in comprehending the 

 problem before them. They were surely aware of the fact that in orni- 

 thology as in every branch of zoology and botany we are confronted today 



i Official Check-List of the Birds of Australia hy Check-List Committee, Royal 

 Australasian Ornithologists' I'riion. Adopted at Launceston, 19th November, 

 1912. Wth Report. Melbourne Walker, May & Co., Printers, Mackillop Street. 

 1013. Supplement to "The Emu," Vol. XII, January, 1913. 8vo, pp. 1-116. 

 Price to Non-Members, .". shillings. Address Hon. Secretary It. A. O. U., Zool. 

 Gardens. Melbourne. 



