224 From Magazines, 6-c. fist^A^ril 



Gallinules, 1,500 ; Florida Gallinules, 2,000 ; Little Blue Herons, 

 7,076 ; White Ibis, 26,800 ; and Wood Ibis, 60,500. It is with 

 special pleasure that we record the presence, in our protected 

 colonies, of 160 Limpkins and 147 Roseate Spoonbills, scattered 

 through five rookeries ; also three pairs of the now extremely 

 rare Glossy Ibis. Other interesting birds that have had protec- 

 tion in these guarded nesting-groups are Wood Ducks, Great Blue 

 Herons, Swallow-tailed Kites, King Rails, Boat-tailed Grackles, 

 Florida Redwings, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, and Florida 

 Dusky Ducks. Many of the estimates given above, particularly 

 those in reference to the Wood Ibis, the Little Blue and the 

 Louisiana Herons, are far beneath the true figures. I believe it 

 very conservative to state that about 550,000 water-birds of 

 various kinds received admirable protection from their human 

 enemies during the nesting season of 1914, as a result of the 

 watchful efforts of this Association." 



Review. 



["Mutton-Birds and other Birds." By H. Guthrie-Smith. Whitcombe 

 and Tombs Ltd. Price los.] 



New Zealand ornithologists should gain pleasure and profit from 

 the pages of Mr. Guthrie-Smith's new book. Both text and 

 illustrations are excellent and the volume is well printed and 

 bound. There are 21 chapters, none of which is in the least 

 degree uninteresting, though, of course, some are more attractive 

 than others. 



The opening chapter deals with sanctuaries, and tempts to 

 quotation. " Diminution in the numbers of many species is 

 inevitable in the settlement of a new country. It is the price paid 

 for the displacement of the thistle and thorn in favour of the 

 vine and the fig-tree ; but, although thus thinned in regard to 

 numbers, it does not follow that the species itself need become 

 extinct, and if we save the species we save all. Sternly, there- 

 fore, repressing all sentiment, and recognizing that the chief end 

 of man, or at any rate man in such close proximity to the millions 

 of the yellow races, is to populate his native land, let us examine 

 the chances of our surviving birds. If it can be proved that we 

 can in no way lose by their preservation, if it can be shown that 

 not one acre fit for settlement need be withheld, then, indeed, 

 carelessness becomes worse than carelessness. It becomes a 

 disgraceful apathy, and a reproach to every intelligent man in New 

 Zealand. It can be proved." 



The Kaka, Kiwi, Fern-Bird, Weka, and other remarkable New 

 Zealand birds have been closely studied by the author. The 

 chapter on the Kaka is especially interesting. " During February 

 of 1911," writes Mr. Guthrie-Smith, " the Kaka were in thousands 

 on the lower slopes of the great wooded spurs that run from Table 

 Hill into the Rakiahua Valley. The forest was alive with their 

 movement and echoed with their clamorous cries. A constant 



