234 McGlLF BROS.— Bird Notes. 



tions of nomenclature it would serve a valuable purpose as a 

 conservative list of Australian species and sub-species, but 

 here it fails insomuch as the lack of synonymy makes it diffi- 

 cult or impossible to ascertain with which the many recently 

 described races have been united." Then again The Ibis, 1913. 

 pp. 669 to 701 says — "It is impossible to recommend the list to 

 the use of present day workers, as no synonymy is given, and 

 names are apparently used for species with which they have 

 been shown to have no connection. In conclusion it can only 

 be reiterated that the Official Check-list can be regarded merely 

 as an expression of the conservative views of the old school of 

 Australian Ornithologists, and not as a useful index to that of 

 Ornithological Science in Australia." 



The International Committee on Zoological Nomenclature 

 is steadily confirming or rejecting names. The Law of 

 Priority has been affirmed both in 1892 and 1901. 



All ornithologists in this State are of one mind that "The 

 vexed question of Nomenclature" must be settled now, once and 

 for all. What we have to do is, set to work (the sooner the 

 better), and form a list of Australian birds upon the founda- 

 tion laid down by the most eminent men in the Ornithological 

 World. 



S. A. WHITE, -Wetunga", 

 September; 1918. Fulham. SA. 



Bird Notes. 



(From the McGilp Bros., Moolawatana Station.) 

 AUSTRALIAN DOTTEREL (Peltohyas aiistralis). 



On 22nd of June we were motoring on the plains east of 

 here, and nearly ran down a dotterel. After pulling up we had 

 no difficulty in finding the nest, which contained three eggs, 

 quite fresh, the usual clutch. We were surprised to find the 

 bird had made a nest, for we had never observed more than 

 a small hole scraped out, and the eggs laid therein, and some- 

 times covered with earth and small twigs. On this occasion 

 the bird had built a very artistic nest. It is well known that 

 after water dries up on the clay pans the silt when drying 

 curls slightly in small pieces. The bird had gone to some 

 trouble to collect these pieces, and after scooping out the usual 

 hole, had placed the curly pieces around, to a height of at least 

 H inches above ground line. Among the collected pieces were 

 a few small twigs and a good deal of half dry grass and herbage, 

 The whole making a beautiful nest and, the first we have seen. 



On Wednesday my brother and I took a trip to the Salt 

 Lakes to see if the swan were nesting, the lake was covered with 



