^°''ig^^^^ 1 Correspondence. 5Q 



IS THERE A SCARLET-BREASTED KINGFISHER ? 



To the Editors of " The Emu." 



Sirs, — In none of my bird books can I find any description of, 

 or even reference to, the scarlet-breasted Kingfisher. In Hall's 

 " Key " I think twelve different species are described, but I can 

 find nothing in the list that would serve to establish the identity 

 of this beautiful bird. In the " Check-list " recently issued by 

 authority of the R.A.O.U. fifteen Kingfishers are mentioned, but, 

 so far as I can make out, the scarlet-breast is not included. That 

 there is such a bird I know, as I have seen it at very close quarters 

 in the remote southern border districts of New South Wales. It 

 is one of the most charming bird-forms the writer has ever seen. 

 The back and wings are metallic green and royal blue, the throat 

 whitish, and the breast just as vivid a scarlet — so far as one may 

 judge without handling the bird — as the Scarlet-breasted Robin. 

 I would be glad if you could enlighten me on this point. — I am, &c., 



Wagga, N.S.W., April, 1913. W. M. SHERRIE. 



[There i= no scarlet-breasted Kingfisher indigenous to Aus- 

 tralia. The nearest colour is " ferruginous orange," which 

 describes the breast of the familiar river Kingfisher (Alcyone). — 

 Eds.] 



Obituary Notice. 



MELLOR.— On the 4th May, 191 3, at Holmfirth, Fulham, S.A., in his 69th 



year, after a long and painful illness, John Fox, youngest son of the 



late Joseph Mellor, of Adelaide, and dearly beloved husband of Eliza 



Mellor. 



The late Mr. J. F. Mellor, although not an active member of the 



R.A.O.U., always took a deep interest in its affairs since its 



inception. He accompanied Mrs. Mellor and their son, Mr. J. W. 



Mellor, to all the annual sessions, except to the last (Launceston) 



meeting, when he was incapacitated on account of the dire illness 



to which he ultimately succumbed. 



Members who were fortunate enough to know the late Mr. 

 Mellor will ever remember his genial disposition and cheerfulness, 

 especially at the camp-outs, at which, moreover, being of a 

 mechanical turn of mind, he was an indespensable hand. In 

 numerous ways, private and public, his place will not be easily filled, 

 and members will condole with his family and friends at their loss. 

 The late Mr. Mellor married a daughter of the late Mr. John 

 White, of Reedbeds (near Adelaide), therefore was brother-in-law 

 to the late Mr. Samuel White, frequently mentioned in Gould's 

 great work, "The Birds of Australia." 



Bird Observers^ Club. 



The first meeting of the Bird Observers' Club for 19 13 was held at the 

 Thistle Tea-rooms, Elizabeth-street, on Wednesday evening, 15th January. 

 Mr. C. F. Cole was the host. There was a good attendance of members. 

 The chair was occupied by Dr. H. W. Bryant, president. Mr. Slaney was 



