^"';g^y^-] The R.A.O.U." Check-list." igi 



be a pleasure to me and not a laborious task." — Wensleydale, 

 Broome Hill, 1 2/5/1 3. 



Mr. Gerald F. Hill, F.E.S., Government Entomologist, Northern 

 Territory, states : — 



" The ' Checkdist ' came to hand last mail, but I regret to say 

 1 have not had time for more than a glance at it. However, I 

 am satisfied it is what has been badly wanted, and will put hope 

 into those who, like myself, found the burden of ornithology 

 getting too weighty. I felt that I would have to give up the study 

 or fall behind, as I could not devote the time necessary to keep 

 abreast of things. 



" May I offer the members of the committee my congratulations 

 on bringing out such a work as the ' Official Check-list ' ? It 

 has been a great undertaking, but I feel sure you have won the 

 thanks of the vast majority of ornithologists. I, for one, feel 

 pleased that the burden of the trinomial system has been spared 

 us who have not the same facilities as city folk for keeping up to 

 date in study." Darwin, 25/4/1 j. 



Mr. Frank S. Smith, Victoria, a writer on popular ornithology, 

 states : — 



" From the point of view of the ordinary bird-lover the ' Check- 

 list ' seems to be a splendid piece of work. All ornithologists will 

 feel much obliged to you and your committee for your labour of 

 love. 



" I feel convinced that you are correct about the trinomial 

 business and the eternal splitting of species ; also about priority 

 of nomenclature. I am certain some authorities have s])lit species 

 up far too much, and have raised the priority business to a fetish. 



" Your list seemed to me to be so altogether admirable (and 

 workable) that I thought it right to let you know my oj^nion." 

 Noorat, 29/3/13. 



Later: — " I am more and nunc enamoured of the ' (heck-list ' 

 the more I use it. I am sure that even your few opponents will 

 gradually come round." 



The Editors of " The Emu." 



Sirs, — On behalf of the 50,000 members of the Gould League 

 of Bird Lovers of Victoria, and the almost equal number of Gould 

 League Bird Lovers of the other States of the Commonwealth, 

 I desire to thank the R.A.O.U. for the timely issue of the 

 " Official Check-list of the Birds of Austraha." It provides some- 

 thing definite at this period of uncertainty and research. The 

 whole-hearted dihgence of Mr. Gregory M. Mathews in his 

 successful investigations of the literature of the past has revealed 

 so much of interest and value that his " Reference-list," published 

 less than two years ago, is already obsolete. He has announced 

 in the Austral Avian Record of 23rd October, 1913, the issue of 

 " A New List of the Birds of Austraha." As Mr. Mathews is still 



