^"'■.g^7'] Chisholm, Progress of Bird Study in Queensland. 189 



Intermediately, theie have t)een the usual })erioclica] outcries 

 against particular birds that have proved temporarily trouble- 

 some. First it was the " Currawong " (Sirepcra graculiiui), 

 whose collective head was demanded to be served up on a 

 (metaphorical) charger to certain men on the land ; then the 

 " Red-bill " (presumably Porphyrio melanonotus) was roundly 

 abused by sugar-growers— Halifax farmers actually were found 

 to be paying gd. a head for this protected bird ; and, thirdly, 

 various apiarists raised a shout of execration against the Bee- 

 eater {Merops ornatus) — chiefly, one suspects, because of its 

 unhappy name. However. Porphyrio and Merops continue to 

 enjoy whatever protection the law affords, but the Strepera has 

 to look after its own welfare — a thing the vigorous bird is not 

 at all incapable of doing. 



Reverting, in conclusion, to the personal note, it may be 

 mentioned that, in addition to Mr. Campbell, two travelling 

 members of the Union were welcomed to Brisbane during the 

 year. These were Colonel T. Anderson, formerly of Ballarat, 

 who is now on transport duty, and Mr. F. L. Berney. formerly of 

 Western Queensland, who has been in England for two years. 

 This absence has in no way lessened Mr. Berney's interest in 

 Australian bird-life. 



It is worthy of note also that, on the occasion of a Field 

 Naturalists' outing to Oxley. an outer suburb of Brisbane, we 

 made the acquaintance of Mr. Daniel O'Connor, a venerable 

 gentleman who had been a friend of John Gould's mother. Mr. 

 O'Connor * is over 90 years of age. but still takes a healthy 

 interest in things of the outdoor world, and still retains a vigorous 

 memory. He told us that, on the last occasion he saw Mrs. 

 Gould, she spoke of her son John, who had left for Australia a 

 short time before " to study birds." ^Ir. O'Connor was also to 

 leave for Australia in a few days' time, and the lady expressed 

 the hope that he would meet her son. Unfortunateh', he never 

 did. 



Brisbane, ist December, iqi6. 



Camera Craft Notes. 



Crested Pigeons. — Crested Pigeons (Ocyp/uips lophotes) are 

 common in Northern Victoria in open country, being usually 

 found feeding on the ground. They make a loud whirring with 

 their wings when they fly, and, as a rule, are not shy. They 

 generally nest on salt and other bushes. They are easily kept in 

 captivity, and breed every year in the aviaries at the Melbourne 

 Zoological Gardens, where l' took the photograph. — D. Le Souef. 

 Melbourne. 



* Mr. O'Connor passed peacefully away on <,th December, a|s;ed gr. 



