Vol. VIII 



1909 



] From Magazines, &c. I^Q 



than many other species of Pigeon." Attention is called to " the 

 presence of an egg tooth on both mandibles ; the upper one is 

 of the usual triangular shape, while the lower one takes the form 

 of a flattened semicircular nail." Mr. Newman continues : — " I 

 am not aware that an egg-tooth on the lower jaw has been 

 recorded in any species of bird, but it is evidently not so 

 uncommon among Pigeons, as I found it present in the newly- 

 hatched young of the Brush Bronze-wing {Phaps elegans), but 

 very much smaller, and, to my surprise, I could just detect it in 

 two young Picui Doves {Colunibula piciii), and in a young 

 Diamond Dove {Geopelm cmicata). I think we shall hear more 

 about this later on, as I have sent a two days' old young 

 Partridge Bronze-wing to Mr. Pycraft, and he has promised to 

 describe it to us." The young bird hatched on 23rd May was 

 first noticed out of the nest when twelve days old, when it could 

 run very fast. On 7th and 9th June, when this young one had 

 left the nest two or three days, the old birds laid again, and 

 another young one was hatched on 26th June ; " on 30th June 

 its eyes were opening, and feathers beginning to sprout, body 

 sparingly covered with fawn-coloured down." On 5th July it 

 first left the nest, and on 7th July ran about actively. Mr. New- 

 man's notes will be continued. 



"The House-Sparrow in New South Wales." — The 

 Department of Agriculture of New South Wales has issued in 

 pamphlet form a report on the above subject, reprinted from The 

 Agricultural Garjette, and prepared by Mr. C. T. Musson, of the 

 Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond, N.S.W. The 

 author has had the assistance of nearly 400 correspondents in 

 different parts of the State, who, in response to circulars, 

 supplied much valuable information dealing with the bird from 

 every point of view. The House-Sparrow {Passer douiestkus) is 

 said to have been introduced into New South Wales about 45 

 years ago, and is believed to have been brought to Victoria 

 about the same time. It is only, however, within the last 10 

 years that it has become so numerous as to be considered a pest. 

 While the farmer is the greatest sufferer from its depredations, 

 owing to its destruction of grain, it is accused also of attacking 

 soft fruits, particularly grapes, as well as destroying buds and 

 injuring the leaves of fruit trees, eating vegetable seeds, 

 damaging seedling plants, accumulating dirt about buildings, 

 and contaminating the water supply. In addition it pilfers the 

 food of domestic animals, eats useful insects, and sometimes 

 destroys bees. As to its driving away or molesting other birds, the 

 reports says : — " The Sparrow does drive away other birds, 

 chiefly Swallows and Fairy Martins, often making use of their 

 nests." To the credit of the bird may be placed the facts that 



