Vol. XII. 



1912 



1 South Australian Ornithological Association. I^Q 



was received from the secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, 

 stating that "the Spit" and adjacent islets at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, 

 had been proclaimed a bird reserve for over three years, and promising to 

 have notices placed there to warn persons of the liability of trespassing to 

 molest the birds. Several letters were read asking permission to take young 

 Seagulls from these breeding places, but as the locality was now protected 

 no permits could be recommended. Mr. H. E. Laffer was elected a 

 member of the Association. Captain White tabled " Bulletin No. 3 " of 

 The Emu, describing several new birds and eggs, also two volumes of the 

 Ihis. Mr. J. W. Mellor showed several species of Scrub-Wrens (Sericornis), 

 notably two species from the lowest and highest elevations of the Adelaide 

 district, and upon which experts both in Australia and Europe are differing 

 in their opinion of nomenclature. The subject of the evening was a 

 discussion upon the Malurus family, the best known representative about 

 Adelaide being the Blue Wren (Malurus cyanochlamys). A series was 

 shown to illustrate the wide distribution of the bird in Australia, and the 

 variations they assume in different localities. Mr. F. R. Zietz, the Museum 

 ornithologist, displayed a fine series from the Adelaide public collection, 

 containing the majority of the known species in Australia, and these were of 

 great use in comparing specimens from private collections. Mr. J. W. 

 Mellor tabled a rare species from the north and far north-west of this State, 

 and described by Mr. A. J. Campbell, of Melbourne, as the White Wren 

 (Malurus whitei), named in honour of the good work done by the late Mr. 

 Samuel White. Mr. E. Ashley and Captain White exhibited Blue Wrens 

 from Kangaroo Island, King Island, Tasmania, and the mainland, 

 including the White-wmged Wren (Malurus leucopterus) , from the 

 southern and northern parts of South Australia. 



Notes and Notices. 



Back Volumes of " The Emu."— Two complete sets (vols. i. to 

 xi.). also some parts (now out of print), may be had on application 

 to the editors. 



Emu-Skins and Lyre-Bird Tails.— According to advice received 

 from Mr. James Buckland, at the feather sales in London, 7th 

 August, 765 Emu-skins brought from 6s. to los. 6d. each. Another 

 inferior lot, of 222 skins, realized from is. 3d. to 2s. 3d. each, while 

 120 of the large curved feathers out of Lyre-Birds' tails brought 

 2S. 6d. each. How do these feathers get out of Australia ? 



California Academy of Sciences. — Dr. Leverett Mills Loomis, 

 Director of the Museum, writes : — " In spite of the fact that the 

 California Academy of Sciences collection contains over 2,000 

 Albatrosses and Petrels, and in spite of the fact that I have drawn 

 largely on the museums and private collections of the United 

 States, I find myself hampered by lack of material in reviewing 

 the Tubinares. I will, therefore, be greatly obliged if you will 

 send me the address of a reliable collector in Australia and one in 

 New Zealand, from whom the Academy can purchase specimens 

 of the Albatrosses and Petrels frequenting Australian and New 

 Zealand Seas." 



Acanthiza macularia (Gray).— To assist me in the preparation 

 of a monograph on the Acanthiza, Mr. F. E. Wilson, the hon. 

 secretary of the R.A.O.U., kindly placed at my disposal his 

 private collection of Acanthiza skins. 



On examining a large series of A. piisilla, and closely allied 



