66 Revieivs. IJ"]\. 



["A Ilaiulbuok of the Birds of Tabiiiania and its Dependencies," by Frank 

 Mervyn l/illler, F. E. S. (Member of the Australasian Urnitliolugists' Union). 

 Launceston, Tasmania. I'ublisiied by the author. 1910.] 



This handbook is well timed, and will be welcomed by all 

 nature students, especially Tasmanians and ornithologists. 



It is royal 8vo size, contains 235 pages, and is a marvel for 

 neatness, while its arrangement is excellent. The name of each 

 species is given in the vernacular, with the scientific name and 

 authority in brackets; then follow, succinctly written, a description 

 of the " Male," " Female," " Young," " Nest," " Eggs," " Breeding 

 Season," " Geographical Distribution," and last, but not least 

 from a popular point of view, " Observations." Thus 214 birds, 

 including accidental and casual visitors, have been dealt with, in a 

 manner calculated to make the book a useful and scientific 

 reference, and members of the A.O.U. will congratulate their 

 fellow-member accordingly. 



While the author frequently quotes predecessors and con- 

 temporaries, which are freely acknowledged, his own store of 

 knowledge of Tasmanian birds makes the work more valuable, 

 and very little remains for the reviewer to criticise adversely. 

 The author drops the Boobook Owl of the mainland out of the 

 Tasmanian list, recording only the little Spotted Owl {Ninox 

 maculatd). Under the head of the Raven {Corone australis) Mr. 

 Littler states : — " After an investigation extending over some 

 years, and examination of specimens " of Crows so called " from 

 nearly every district in Tasmania, I am forced to the conclusion 

 that the Crow {Corvus coronoides) is non-existent in this island." 

 Another bird off the Tasmanian list 1 Although the White- 

 shouldered Caterpillar-catcher {Lalage tricolor) has found its way 

 on to the Tasmanian list, Mr. Littler has been unable to discover 

 how and when it was recorded. A good place is not given to a 

 second yellow-breasted Thickhead {Pachyccphala gntturalis), 

 notvvithstanding two records by field observers. Mr. Littler is 

 of opinion that they may have been P. glauaira only. It would 

 be interesting were a Tree-creeper {Cliniacteris) found in 

 Tasmania. " Although no specimens have been secured, I have 

 seen it in the big forests in the north-east of the island," writes 

 Mr. Littler. Whether it be leucopJicea or scandens, better to 

 obtain a specimen for complete identification. The scepticism 

 of a person trained in his own subject is not to be condemned. 

 Notvvithstanding two good field observers reported records of 

 the Fairy Martin {Petrochelidon arid) for Tasmania, Mr. Littler 

 affirms : — " I have no personal knowledge of this species in 

 Tasmania, nor have Messrs. Arthur Butler, H. C. Thompson, 

 H. Stuart Dove, or several other observers from whom I inquired." 

 The list of foster-parents given for the various Cuckoos is 

 exceedingly interesting, and includes one or two new records. 

 Mr. Littler is again sceptical about the New Zealand Bronze- 



