EDITORIAL NOTE. 



In completing Vol. VIII. of The Emu, the editors, on behalf of the 

 Council of the A.O.U., again desire to express their grateful thanks 

 to the authors of the various and valuable contributions to the 

 journal. Without depreciating others, special thanks are due to 

 Mr. H. L. White, Belltrees, Scone, N.S.W., for placing at the dis- 

 posal of the Union the whole of Mr. S. W. Jackson's important 

 field-notes and photographs taken during a recent trip to Northern 

 Queensland. These notes are so original and valuable that it was 

 deemed advisable by the Council to issue an extra Part (No. 5) as a 

 conclusion to the present volume. It should also be mentioned, in 

 justice to Mr. White, as well as an incentive to other wealthy and 

 patriotic Australians to do likewise, that the expenses of engraving 

 the 21 excellent half-tone and coloured blocks to illustrate Mr. 

 Jackson's article have been generously defrayed by him. 



Mr. Jackson's observations are undoubtedly valuable additions 

 to the knowledge of Australian field ornithology. They are in the 

 form of an acceptable and readable narrative of his daily doings for 

 some months in the luxuriant " scrubs " of the North. Subsidized 

 by Mr. White, Mr. Jackson went particularly in quest of the nest 

 and eggs of the quaint Tooth-billed Bower-Bird {Scenopceetes 

 dentirostris), and to observe its haunts and habits. Notwith- 

 standing the many difficulties and privations endured (including 

 an attack of the Johnstone River fever), Mr. Jackson succeeded 

 admirably in his mission, and is to be congratulated by members 

 accordingly. 



In conclusion, the editors rejoice that The Emti is maintaining 

 its character as an '' outward and visible sign " of brotherhood 

 between the ornithologists of the Comm.onwealth. Here, in this 

 extra Part, there is an account of Queensland field work, under- 

 taken by New South Welshmen, and published in Victoria. What 

 could be more Federal in spirit ? 



