6o Mathews, Three New Sub-Species of Birds. [ist^'juiy 



Three New Sub^Species of Birds. 



By Gregory M. Mathews, F.R.S. (Ed.) 



While looking through the collection of skins in the possession of 

 Mr, H. L. White, I noted the following new forms. The page 

 number refers to my new " List of the Birds of Austraha." 



P. 182. — Eopsaltria australis austina. 



Differs from E. a. australis in having the head and back grey, 

 the latter altogether lacking the greenish tinge ; the under surface 

 is very much paler. 



Type. — Cobbora (Talbaagah River), New South Wales. 



P. 215. — Acanthiza nana dorotheae. 



Differs from A. n. nana in being much yellower on the under 

 surface and lighter above. It is also longer in the wing. 

 Type. — Lithgow, New South Wales. 



P. 219.— Geobasileus reguloides tarana. 



Differs from G. r. reguloides in having a light, not dark, buff 

 rump. It is also hghter above. 

 Type. — Tarana, New South Wales. 



Need for Bird Protection. 



By Thomas N. Stephens (Adelaide). 



Allow me to direct attention to two articles in the Nineteenth 

 Century for February, 1914, on which these remarks are based, 

 but every sentence of both articles is well worth reading. This 

 subject, in the words of an American senator, is one " that ought 

 to command the co-operation and support of every man in public 

 life," and so strong has been that support in the United States 

 that last year two measures of vast importance were swept 

 through Congress on an irresistible tidal wave of insistent public 

 sentiment. The first produced the Federal law protecting all 

 migratory birds ; the second freed the United States for ever 

 from the shame and the horrors of the millinery trade in wild 

 birds' plumage. 



Among the world's 2,442 species of game birds the slaughter 

 is enormous. Some idea of the extent may be obtained from 

 the one fact alone that in October last 1,174 lots were offered 

 at auction in London in one day. The "trade" said — "Let 

 America refuse them ; it wiU not save the birds or interfere with 

 sales ; we will still sell." But what was the result of that one 

 day's sale ? About one-third — 368 lots — were withdrawn, owing 

 to the action of the States, the lack of buyers, and the tremendous 

 decline in prices. These withdrawn lots, the chief products of 

 millinery slaughter, comprised nearly 90,000 skins, and, in 

 addition, 2,494 ounces of Egret plumes, representing 14,964 birds. 

 Among others there were 34,000 wing and tail feathers of the 

 Hawk, 22,000 skins of Kingfishers, 17,000 wing and tail feathers 



