No. 6.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 131 



as a Special Catalogue No. 1, in quarto (the original being 

 octavo), illustrated with plates of eggs and photo-blocks of 

 birds, nesting-sites, and nests. This was commenced in 

 June, 1901, and was not completed until December, 1914. 

 The criticisms of this work are all of the same nature, lack of 

 appreciation of fellow-workers. This is the chief fault in 

 this work, and it is a small one in comparison with the work 

 accomplished. In most cases the birds are described, good 

 notes are given of the nesting habits, in some cases of other 

 habits as well, and nests, eggs and young described. The 

 work was carried out under difficulties, as North appears to 

 have been ailing, more or less, much of the time. It is for its 

 kind a very fine work, and as a systematistlhave often wished 

 that he had used his ability in connection with the birds more 

 than with the nests and eggs. In man}? - cases he criticised 

 the subspecies and forms of birds, and his observations are 

 regularly found to be reliable. He noted the geographic 

 differences in many species, but continually regarded these as 

 negligible, though sometimes differentiating a subspecific form. 

 Latterly he made complaint against the use of trinomials, 

 though in his earlier, more energetic, days he even utilised 

 the trinomial system for the nomination of a subspecies. As 

 above noted, there was some antagonism between him and the 

 Victorian ornithologists which did harm to the cause of orni- 

 thology in Australia. Where he should have been a tower 

 of strength, his assistance was not given, even if sought. Yet 

 he had better opportunity than his more southern friends to 

 adjust the indicated errors, and he felt that they were to blame, 

 as in a letter to me, dated September 7, 1908, he deplored the 

 attacks on him by Victorians. This indicates that his nature 

 was sensitive to a great degree, as such remarks as were 

 published need not have dismayed a professional, who is open 

 to petty jibes through his more important office. As a 

 consequence, he ignored the work of the Victorians, and this 

 militated against the completeness of his own labours. It is to 

 be regretted that some workers imagine that petty bickering 

 is necessary in the pursuit of a common study, and waste both 



