The Emu. 
great balance of the continent, particularly the eastern half. 
With regard to the nestlings of the extreme eastern and western 
'* White-backs " there is a noticeable difference. Those of the east 
{leiiconotii) possess rust-coloiired or greyish mottled backs, while 
those of the west {dorsalis), not to mention their longer and 
narrower bills, have brow7iisJi-black or almost black backs. 
With regard to the rule of the Tasmanian smaller race of 
White-backs, Mr. Hall does not explain two potent factors. If 
not a good species, why is the race smaller, when it is the rule that 
Tasmanian birds of other species are /<^r^^rthan their representa- 
tives on the mainland 1 And why are no Black-backs found on 
the island 1 Again, can IMr. Hall explain why no White-backed 
birds exist, say, from the region of the Murray (excepting near 
its source and mouth) to the district of the Gulf of Carpentaria — 
the great habitat of the Black-backs } By the way, it may be 
noted too that the further north the smaller the birds. How does 
that fact coincide with the smaller W^hite-backs being further 
south in Tasmania? 
Mr. Hall's material would have possibly been stronger were it 
not mostly collected in Victoria, where the Black and White- 
backed varieties inosculate, and where it is likely that hybrids 
occur, instead of selecting specimens from the strongholds of each 
so-called " species. The instances he has quoted at length from 
a correspondent at Minyip, Victoria, are hardly fair tests, because 
it is a locality w^iere the two species are likely to overlap, and 
possibly he has over-estimated the number of " hybrid-like " birds 
in the neighbourhoods of Bacchus Marsh and Western Port — 
there being only one or two known examples in skins, at all 
events. 
Taking the paper as a whole, the author has put a deal of 
thought and originality into it. He could not have selected a 
more popular class of birds for Australians. No doubt it will stir 
up investigation, and we hope to publish in due course in the 
columns of TJie Emic correspondence on this fascinating subject 
from all parts of Australia. 
A Parrot Exhibition. 
The exhibition of Parrots, &c., at the South Suburban Canary 
Show in July was a genuine success, there being 105 exhibits, 
comprising 17 species of Cockatoos, Parrots, and Parrakeets. 
Such a collection of gay forms has not been previously seen in 
Australia. 
It is to be hoped the exhibition will induce bird-lovers to study 
more thoroughly aviculture by building spacious aviaries to 
encourage Australian birds to breed (as has been successfully 
done in England, Germany, and India), instead of confining their 
pets in small cages and teaching the occupants merely to speak 
and whistle. 
