116 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF AUSTRALIAN 



BIRDS. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — My remarks in the recent paper on geographical distribu- 

 tion have given rise to some misunderstanding, judging by the 

 critical review of it by Mr. A. J. Campbell. I should, perhaps, 

 have made it plainer that certain additions were previously 

 unrecorded in any work, while others had not been noted in my 

 " Key," and were additional to it. 



Many of the species referred to by Mr. Campbell I credited to 

 the latest compiler, though it would have been better had I 

 found and quoted the original chronicler. Thus, to a certain 

 extent, Mr. Campbell's criticism is correct. — I am, &c, 



ROBERT HALL. 



CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN ANTHROPOLOGY. 



It is satisfactory to be able to report that the proposed expedition 

 of Professor Spencer, F.R.S., and Mr. F. J. Gillen to the northern 

 portion of Central Australia, for the purpose of studying the 

 customs, folk-lore, &c, of the aboriginal inhabitants, has been 

 financially provided for. Though Victoria was likely to derive the 

 greatest results from the investigations proposed, our Government 

 could not see its way to provide more than one-third of the cost. 

 However, a wealthy Melbourne citizen has come to the rescue, 

 Mr. David Syme, the proprietor of the Melbourne Age, having 

 generously offered to defray the actual expenses of the expedition, 

 about ;£j.,ooo. In order that no time may be wasted, Professor 

 Spencer has been in Adelaide in consultation with Mr. Gillen as 

 to the details of the expedition, and arranged for the transmission 

 of the stores required into the interior to several depots, so that 

 work may be commenced in earnest early in next year. It is 

 pleasing to be able to record such a spirited action on behalf of 

 science by a Melbourne citizen, as hitherto little liberality towards 

 scientific work has been shown by our wealthy fellow-colonists, 

 and we trust Mr. Syme's example will be the means of inducing 

 others to give assistance where there is apparently no direct 

 return. 



