62 Notes and Notices. [..^"{"ly 



Next Bird Day. — Bird Day will be celebrated this year on Friday, 

 ijtli OcU)l)er, in Victorian schools. The New South Wales Gould 

 League of Bird Lovers has already announced nth October as 

 the date of Bird Day in that State. The South Australian Gould 

 League is again celebrating Bird and Tree Day in all schools. 

 Bird lovers will \isit schools in Victoria on Bird Day to address 

 the senior pupils or lead excursions. 



The October number of The School Paper will be a bird number. 

 Members of the R.A.O.U. are kindly invited to send articles 

 (illustrated, if possible) of about 500 words to the Editor, School 

 Paper, Education Department, Melbourne, not later than 20th 



July. 



The Old Order and the New. — The following extracts (which 

 represent the view of many field ornithologists) are taken from 

 a letter recently written to a member of Council of the R.A.O.U. : 

 — " I have just received the first two parts of The Austral Avian 

 Record, by Gregory M. Mathews. I know the author well — 

 have stayed at his house. I consider the law of priority is being 

 carried to extremes. For example. Glycyphila fulvifrons is changed 

 to G. melanops — the latter designation being a wrong description 

 of the bird, &c. Also, the splitting of sub-species appears to be 

 overdone. So many trinomials will, I think, cause many who 

 have taken up ornithology as a hobby and recreation to give it 

 up, as the tax on one's memory will be really too great, and 

 pleasure will be turned into toil. Also, where is the collecting 

 of specimens of both birds and eggs to cease ? Some enthusiasts 

 will want specimens of both from all localities. Apparently the 

 editors of The Ibis (igi2, page 353) consider the thing is being 

 overdone in the case of European birds. Great confusion is 

 already being caused. ... I think it is time that a stand 

 was taken against the most confusing alterations and additions 

 that are being made in the nomenclature of Australian birds (see 

 Austral Avian Record, No. i, p. 12 ; Bulletin B.O.C., clxxvi., 

 p. 70, &c.) .... Sooner than adopt trinomials generally 

 I will use the original vernacular names, or drop ornithology 

 altogether as far as writing upon the subject is concerned. Why 

 should the nomenclature of Australian birds be altered at the 

 will of self -elected arbitrators ? If the majority of working 

 naturalists do not agree with their views, why should these views 

 be accepted ? How we miss poor Bowdler Sharpe ! " 



Exploring Members. — Captain Barclay's exploring expedition 

 to the Northern Territory, with Mr. G. F. Hill, R.A.O.U., as 

 naturalist, safely reached Borraloola, Gulf of Carpentaria, on 8th 

 September last, having travelled from Oodnadatta in a zig-zag 

 course on camels. When loading one of the camels for the last 

 day's journey Mr. Hill had the misfortune to rupture himself, 

 but was able to continue his work with Captain Barclay in the 

 neighbourhood of Macarthur River. About the middle of March, 



