66 Campbell, A Commonwealth Collection. rist^"oci 



White hopes to procure eggs and breeding information of the same. 

 To this end, with commendable enterprise and at considerable 

 expense, Mr. White has subsidized in the field such reliable collectors 

 as H. G. Barnard (Queensland), S. W. Jackson (New South Wales), 

 F. L. Whitlock (Western Australia), G. F. Hill (North- West Aus- 

 tralia), and others. The collection thus acquired is undoubtedly a 

 national one, and of the greatest value to its country. It is 

 admitted that egg-collecting may be, and is sometimes, abused, 

 but proper collecting is both scientific and popular ornithology. 

 For, as Mr. Ray argues, " it would seem that equally as much of 

 the science of life can be learned by the close study of the birds' 

 habits, their eggs and nests, as by the study of their structure and 

 their classification." 



However, for all the material collected from home for Mr. White 

 there is a " compensating balance." The broad acres (about 

 200,000) of " Belltrees " are a close sanctuary for all birds. In the 

 five acres comprising the garden and orchard alone about 120 

 species are found during the year, a score of kinds remaining to 

 breed. It is interesting to have Wood-Swallows {Artamiis) nesting 

 on one's gate-post, Pardalotes laying in hollow spouts placed 

 within a summer-house. Honey-eaters and Flycatchers building in 

 the fruit trees, &c. According to Mr. White's observations, the 

 majority of birds is increasing, notably Magpie-Lark (Grallina), 

 Spotted-sided Finch {Stago no pleura guttata). Tits [Acanthizce), 

 Crow and Magpie {Gymnorhina) ; but some species have decreased : 

 the Emu is extinct ; Stone {OEdicnenius grallarius) and Spur- 

 winged Plovers [Lohivanellus lobatus) are scarce, no doubt due to 

 the presence of foxes, 200 of which were poisoned on the estate one 

 winter. 



The critical examination of the oological collection, which now 

 exceeds 800 Australian species, with data, together with over 1,000 

 bird-skins, occupied the best part of four days. The eggs are 

 arranged in series, classified and registered, the work of arranging 

 and recording having been most methodically and carefully per- 

 formed by Mr. S. W. Jackson.* Any clutch of eggs that one 

 chooses to name may be instantly inspected and its written data 

 referred to, the arrangements are so excellent. The collections 

 are contained in several handy cabinets, the drawers being 

 divisioned, which adorn a spacious billiard-room (with fire-proof 

 doors), where is also a library of ornithological works of reference, 

 including Gould's great folio books. 



It matters not where a visitor begins inspecting — beauty of form 

 and colour, not to mention information, is found in every casket 

 {i.e., cabinet). 



OBSERVATIONS. 



We will follow no recognized scheme of classification, but simply 



* After the pattern of the "Catalogue of the Jacksonian Collection," 

 noticed in Emu, vol. vii., p. 201. (Mr. White acquired the Jackson 

 collection.) 



