68 Reviews. [Ij-Xy 



coincidentally well timed, because castaway sailors — survivors 

 of the wreck of the Diiiuionald — were found there. 



The scientific articles are preceded by the " Narrative of the 

 Expedition," " The Discovery of the Islands," and " The History 

 of their Scientific Investigation," all of which are most interest- 

 ing reading even from a popular point of view, not to mention 

 their historical importance. 



It being beyond the limits of space and the range of the 

 reviewers to notice all the valuable and technical articles which 

 comprise the two volumes, they will, however, venture some 

 remarks on that portion of Mr. E. R. Waite's article (xxv.) 

 dealing with " Aves." According to Mr. Waite's statement, the 

 ornithological work was inadequately performed for such an 

 important expedition, for the following principal causes : — 

 (i) Most of the subjects to be studied had been allotted to 

 different specialists of the expedition, whilst arrangements in 

 respect of ornithology had fallen through ; (2) it was not until 

 after the return to New Zealand that Mr. Waite was deputed to 

 write up the birds ; and (3) it was a rule of the expedition that 

 " neither birds nor their eggs were to be taken." Bird protec- 

 tion done to the death (of scientific knowledge) ! However, 

 Mr. Waite has compiled a very able and instructive chapter, 

 consisting of an enumeration of species recorded from these 

 southern islands, together with his own notes, some of these 

 notes being made in February, 1907, when he accompanied His 

 Excellency the Governor on his tour, which touched the Snares, 

 Aucklands, Campbell, Antipodes, and Chathams. The follow- 

 ing Australian species may be mentioned : — 



Zosterops avrulescens (White-eye). — This self-introduced bird 

 from Australia to New Zealand now extends its range to 

 Auckland, Campbell, and Chatham Islands. 



CatJiaracta {Megalestris) a^itarctica (Skua). — This well-known 

 marine marauder was found on many of the islands, and through 

 the courtesy of the "Institute" (per favour of Dr. C. Chilton), 

 the illustration is reproduced of" Skua Gulls at a carcass of a 

 seal" (Plate VII.) 



CEstrdata Icssoni (White-headed Petrel). — Mr. Waite found 

 this rare Petrel breeding on Disappointment Island, Auckland 

 group. 



Majaqiieus cegiiinoctialis (White-chinned Petrel). — This other 

 Petrel of Kerguelen fame also appears to nest on Disappointment 

 Island, because a decayed specimen was taken from a burrow, 

 while several dead birds were observed lying about. 



Daption capensis (Cape Petrel). — Voyagers assert that the 

 beautiful " Cape Pigeon " is becoming scarce on the route 

 between the Cape and Australia. This bird is said to breed on 

 the Western Snares, but Mr. Waite had no opportunity of 

 verifying the statement. It was only recently (1904) that the 



