Publislied by the Australian Museum 

 Editor: C. Anderson, M.A., D.Sc. 



- College Street, Sijdnei/. 

 Annual Sul)Scription, Post Free, 4/4. 



VOL. 1. X(.. 3. 



DECEMBER. 1021. 



EditonaL 



The Magazine. 



The Australian Museum Magazine, of 

 which this is the third number, has met 

 with a flattei-ing- reception; the first 

 number was sold out in a few weeks, 

 and the second (of twice the number 

 of copies) is at the moment of going to 

 press almost exhausted. This shows 

 that thei'e is a considerable demand for 

 a publication of this kind, and is very 

 gratifying to the trustees. No effort 

 will be spared to maintain, and, if pos- 

 sible, to raise the standard of the Maga- 

 zine, which we hope will continue to ob- 

 tain the public support which is essen- 

 tial to its continued success. 



MusEUJi Lectures. 



These lectures are increasing in i^o- 

 pularity, and are now a well established 

 feature in the intellectual life of Syd- 

 ney. From quite modest beginnings they 

 have grown until the lecture theatre is 

 all too small for our needs. At the re- 

 gular lectures held this year the ac- 

 commodation has been taxed to the ut- 

 most, and more than once we have had 

 regretfully to close the doors and leave 

 many -would-be hearers outside. Mr. 

 A. R. McCulloch's lecture, "Lord Howe 

 Island; A South Sea Tragedy," was so 

 popular that it had to be repeated. 



This year we have been able to add 

 some extra lectures to the ordinary 

 course, and to place the Lecture Hall 

 at the disposal of distinguished scien- 



tists from other States and countries. 

 Dr. .J. Y. Danes, Consul-General for 

 Czechoslovakia, lectured on "The Phy- 

 siography of Czechoslovakia." Dr. W. 

 K. Gregory, of the American Museum 

 of Natural History, on "Australian 

 Mammals and why they are worth pro- 

 tecting," and Captain A. S. White, of 

 South Australia, on "The Economic 

 Value of our Birds." It is hoped tl^nt 

 this innovation will become a regular 

 feature. 



Williajsi Street Frontage. 



Plans have been adopted for the im- 

 provement of the William Street fron- 

 tage, which has been an eyesore ever 

 siiK-e the City Council resumed part of 

 t;ie Museum premises for the purpose of 

 widening the street, and the work will 

 be proceeded with very shortly. It is 

 proposed to erect a retaining wall along 

 William Street, to level the ground on 

 the northern front, and to terrace the 

 eastern end, where also a roadway will 

 be constructed to give access to the 

 back of the Museum premises. When 

 the work is completed it will enhance 

 the appearance of the building, and 

 also improve the lighting and ventila- 

 tion of the basement rooms. 



Electric Lighting. 



The north wing is very badly lighted, 

 particularly on the ground and first 

 floors, where on a dull day the exhibits 

 are seen to very poor advantage. It 



