voi.^ xiv.-j p^Q^ Magazines, S'C. 221 



From Magazines, &c. 



Historic Advertisement. — Professor Ernest Scott, of the 

 University of iMelbolirne, when working at the early files of the 

 Sydney Gazette at the Melbourne Public Library, came across the 

 following historic advertisement in the issue of 21st September, 

 1806, and was kind enough to send a copy to the editors of The 

 Emu :• — 



" PROPOSALS 



" For Publishing by Subscription 

 "The Birds of New South Wales, with their Natural History. 



" This work is the first fruits of the labour of Mr. John Lewin, 

 A.L.S., who has spent near eight years in this colony, occupied 

 in collecting and arranging materials for its publication. 



" The first volume will contain eighteen plates, and will be 

 published in the most elegant manner. Many of the birds are 

 new subjects, and will be systematically arranged and cyentifically 

 named, with their descriptions in French and English. 



" The price of this volume, in imperial quarto, two guineas. 



" Gentlemen willing to become subscribers to this work will 

 favour the author, Mr. John Lewin, with their names, which will 

 be thankfully received by him. 



" N.B. — This work will be sent to England by His Majesty's 

 ship Buffalo, under the care of a gentleman, for immediate 

 publication. The terms of subscription are — half the subscrip- 

 tion money to be paid at the time of subscribing, and the other 

 half on the delivery of the work." 



Australian Crane (Antigone australasiana) in Captivity. — An 



interesting article, entitled " Cranes in Captivity," is published 

 in the Avicultnral Journal, December, 1914. The author writes 

 of the Australian Crane as follows : — 



" Another species of Crane, well worthy of the serious attention 

 of those interested in these birds, is the Austrahan Crane, the 

 ' Native Companion ' of the colonists. This bird is of a different 

 shade of colour to the preceding species, being rather a bluish, or 

 French grey, as the tint of its plumage, the top of the head and 

 the beak are of an olive-green colour, as is also the gular pouch ; 

 the back of the head is papillose skin of a brilliant scarlet. This 

 Crane is not so reliable in its temper as the gentle Demoiselle, 

 and most individuals are inveterate practical jokers, as evidenced 

 by the sly manner with which they will sidle up alongside anyone 

 who may be inside their enclosure, looking the pictures of 

 innocence, and then give a nasty lunge with their spear-like beak 

 at the person of the intruder, usually selecting, if it be a man, 

 the back of the calf of the leg ; or, if a lady, the back or palm of 

 the hand. Like the majority of the Cranes, this species is very 

 hardy, and may safely be left out of doors during all weathers, 



