Vol. XVII. j Camera Craft Notes. 55 



last one found was i foot 7 inches from the ground to the top of 

 nest ; the material dry native grass, as in the others, with 

 a wool lining. There were three eggs reposing upon the wool, 

 of a creamy-white ground, with burnt sienna spots at the larger 

 end. These eggs measured, approximately, i inch in length by 

 f inch in diameter. The measurements of nest were :■ — 3|- inches 

 across top over all, 2\ inches across top inside one way by 2 inches 

 the other, 4^ inches depth outside, 2J inches depth egg cavity. 

 Part of the rim was bound to Lepidosperma blades with strands 

 of sheep's wool. — H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S., R.A.O.U. 



Correspondence. 



To the Editors of " The Emu." 



Sirs, — The Executive Committee of the Advisory Council of Science 

 and Industry have had brought to their notice the desirability of 

 farther knowledge as to the food of Australian birds. It has been 

 suggested that if the stomachs of all wild birds shot were preserved 

 and their contents identified by experts great additions to our 

 knowledge would be made. 



Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E.S., Entomologist of the South Australian 

 Museum, is at present engaged on a research on this subject, with 

 the assistance of other specialists in the identification of seeds, 

 molluscs, &c. The committee consider that members of the Royal 

 Australasian Ornithologists' Union will no doubt be glad to assist 

 Mr. Lea in this valuable work by forwarding him the stomachs of 

 any birds they may shoot ; all such assistance will be acknowledged 

 by Mr. Lea when publishing his results. 



After skinning a bird the stomach should be removed and placed 

 in methylated spirit, together with a label giving the following 

 particulars : — Name of bird (scientific name, if known), collector's 

 name, locality, month and year. If several stomachs are placed in 

 the same jar or tube of spirits, each stomach with its label should 

 be wrapped and tied separately in a piece of muslin or cloth. 



Birds whose stomachs are specially wanted bj' Mr. Lea are the 

 Emu, Bustard or Wild Turkey, Native Companion, and Crows, but 

 Mr. Lea desires it to be emphasized that he does not wish birds to 

 be specially shot for the purpose of securing their stomachs. — 

 Yours, &c., 



GERALD LIGHTFOOT, 

 Secretary Executive Committee Advisory Council of 

 Science and Industry. 



314 Albert-street, East Melbourne, 

 29th June. 1917. 



[It is expected that R.A.O.U. members will heartily co-operate 

 by providing material for this important scientific research. — Eds.] 



