234 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



what lengthy remarks on the rusty, sometimes fox-red colour of the 

 feathers of the head (Kopfgefieder) of " Anser grandis " near the base 

 of the bill. — Sergius A. Buturlin (Wesenberg, Esthonia, Russia). 



I would feel personally obliged to any of your correspondents who 

 would compile a complete or partial list of English-killed Ospreys, 

 with locality, date, authority, and county for each (or, if the last item 

 be undesirable, it may be left out). I am preparing a little brochure upon 

 the Osprey, and desire to make this as perfect as I can. — J. A. Harvie- 

 Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.). 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FROM SYDNEY. 



In my last zoological notes sent to you, I gave some particulars 

 about the "Flying Foxes" (Pterojms polioceplialus), and the de- 

 struction wrought by them (1900, p. 349). The following is an extract 

 from the ' Sydney Morning Herald ' on the same subject : — 



" A party of about thirty shooters raided a ' Flying Fox ' camping- 

 ground at the Burra, about five miles west of Moruya. The camp was 

 in a large gully, where the ' Foxes ' were found in hanging masses sus- 

 pended from every branch and bramble in strings reaching almost to 

 the ground, and covering an area close upon a mile square. Every 

 cartridge was used. It is estimated that about two thousand ' Foxes ' 

 were shot, as many as fifteen being got in one shot. Notwithstanding 

 the large number killed, apparently as many remained. They are said 

 to be there in millions." 



How wonderfully the Australian climate (or should I say climates ?) 

 seems to suit so many of the introduced animals. On every hand we 

 find them flourishing. What a crushing rejoinder, indeed, would it 

 have been to those " old-timers " who were wont to so repeatedly assert 

 that "wherever there is a place for an animal in Nature, there that 

 animal will be found." There are " Wild " Horses ; then, in many 

 parts (especially in Queensland), we have large herds of "Wild" 

 Cattle ; then there are Pigs, which, consequent upon the free existence, 

 have become lean and wiry. (Occasionally these are hunted, and in 

 one year recently there were killed no fewer than 17,134.) Wild Cats 

 (the common Felis domestica) also abound in some districts. There are 

 also Cavies and common Norway Rats, the latter in some cases leading 

 an arboreal existence. Then, of course, must be mentioned the Rabbits 

 and Hares. Though I mention these last, the Rabbits must without 

 doubt take pre-eminence as regards numbers. Millions of them every 

 year are trapped, shot, or poisoned, and occasionally epidemic diseases 



