Emu 



Il8 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [ist^^T' 



the list was evident when it set out to compile a list of unerring 

 simplicity. The principal thought was in the interest of a 

 growing community already burdened by a highly developed range 

 of learning. The law of priority of name was partly sacrificed. 

 It seemed best not to deviate from the established nomenclature, 

 which was working well. Certainly, the day will arrive when 

 geographical differences in our birds will be still further studied ; 

 but for the general working of such a national list we are, as a mass 

 of people, not yet ready to grapple with them. In the meantime 

 we have Mr. Gregory Mathews carefully and finely making his 

 study. 



Recently our attention was drawn by Mr. A. J. Campbell to the 

 nearly perfect collection of the eggs of Australian birds in the 

 possession of Mr. H. L. White, of Scone, N.S.W. When that 

 collection is completed, or nearly so, and when the day arrives 

 for the administrators of the Federal Capital to be in need of the 

 finest collection in Australia, we may hope that Mr. White's 

 cabinets will be vested in the leading institution of the nation by 

 lease in perpetuity, or gift, by the owner and constructor. It 

 will be a fine opportunity to do a great thing, and I should like 

 to be in such a position as the donor to the nation of a collection 

 so fine in most respects. 



Apart from the Antarctic Expedition being conducted by Dr. 

 Douglas Mawson, other events have occurred since last we met. 

 Though not so great, they are of merit. In the pages of Th» 

 Emu we find their records, and the hon. editors are ever on the 

 watch for more of equal value. 



The River Excursion. 



By Alex. Chisholm, R.A.O.U. 



Under the most pleasant weather conditions, the trip up Aus- 

 tralia's great waterway was commenced at Murray Bridge on 

 Wednesday, 26th November. South Australian members and 

 those visitors who had been attending the congress met the rest 

 of the Victorian representation at this township, and before noon 

 the party was well on the way up-stream per the s.s. Arcadia. 

 This steamer had been chartered for the occasion by Captain 

 White, and it proved very satisfactory. The Arcadia could work 

 well, and its management in all departments left nothing to be 

 desired. The passenger list was as follows : — Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, 

 C.M.Z.S. (Victoria), leader; Capt. S. A. White, Messrs. J. W. 

 Mellor, F. R. Zietz, J. W. Hosking, F. M. Angel, P. Runge, S. 

 Sanders, P. W. Melloi, E. G. Mayo, R. Crompton, L. Crompton, 

 H. W. Andrew, C. Trescowthick ; Mesdames John F. Mellor, J. 

 W. Mellor, and S. A. White, Misses W. Mellor, R. Toms, and L. 

 M. Farr (South AustraHa), Dr. J, Burton Cleland (N,S.W.), Messrs. 



