Vol. xiv.i From Maeazines, &'C. 107 



1914 J ° 



about birds than the photograph. Many a reader of a magazine, 

 be it ornithological or otherwise, will imbibe what knowledge he 

 can by looking at the pictures, even though he never takes time 

 to read a text description. Pictures leave a more lasting impression 

 than does descriptive writing. Let me also call to your attention 

 the fact that good photographs are practically as reliable in 

 establishing records as are skins." 



Review* 



[" A Lisl of the Birds uf Australia," by Grej^'ory M. Mathews, F.K.8.E., F.L.S., 

 F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., R.A.O.U., &c., author of "The Birds of Austraha '; con- 

 lainiiiji' the' names and synonyms connected with each genus, species, and sub-species 

 uf birds found in Australia at present known to the author. Witherby and Co., 

 326 High Holborn, London, W.C. 1913-] 



This, the third list of AustraUan birds already issued by Mr. 

 Mathews, shows that his enthusiasm in the study of the Australian 

 avifauna is unabated. " A Reference-hst to the Birds of Aus- 

 traha," by Mr. Mathews, published in Novitates Zoologicce, 

 vol. xviii., 1912, was so surprising as to the lumping of genera 

 and the splitting of sub-species that many ornithologists felt the 

 need of an authoritative list of AustraUan birds. Soon Mr. 

 Mathews asked the Council of the R.A.O.U. to contribute towards 

 the expense of publishing a new hst. The Council, being com- 

 mitted to the preparation and publication of its " Official Check- 

 list of the Birds of Austraha," could not comply with that request. 

 Nevertheless, Australian ornithologists heartily welcomed Mr. 

 Mathews on his recent visit to Australia, and were pleased to see 

 a first copy of " A List of the Birds of Austraha." Meetings were 

 arranged, and Mr. Mathews addressed ornithologists on the 

 important question of nomenclature. He impressed on all he 

 met the desirability and possibility of uniformity of bird names. 

 The desirability of uniformity of names is cordially approved by 

 Austrahan ornithologists. 



An examination of "A List of the Birds of Australia shows 

 that his treatment of genera is, however, perhaps even more 

 revolutionary than it was in the " Reference-list." There Mr. 

 Mathews "lumped" genera until he reduced the ^^b Australian 

 genera admitted in his " Hand-list of the Birds of Australasia " 

 to 276, and also indicated that this number was to be further 

 reduced, for he stated, in the introduction to the " Reference- 

 list ":—" As regards genera, I . . . have admitted the 

 majority of those used in the ' Hand-list,' only eliminating a few * 

 which I have concluded, from ample material and after careful 

 consideration, to be unnecessary. I, however, do not regard many 

 of those now employed as worthy of generic rank, and anticipate 

 their relegation to the ' unemployed hst ' when working the groups 

 for my ' Birds of Austraha.' " Yet very soon afterwards Mr. 



* Mr. Mathews combined with others about 60 Australian genera recognized 

 in his " Hand-list." 



