THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. I have paid particular attention 
to all these details, correcting as I gather fresh facts, yet my careless critics 
take no notice of these important features. 
It is, however, very pleasing that such are the only matters that critics 
have been concerned with, and that the wider and more important lines have 
been little discussed. 
Wlien the work was commenced the systematic nomenclature of birds 
was in a state of confusion and now it is progressing towards stability. Recently 
the British Ornithologists’ Union suggested to the American Ornithologists’ 
Union the preparation of a Sy sterna Avium, a catalogue of the birds of the 
world wherein the nomenclature of the whole of the world’s avifauna would 
be standardised, and this has been agreed upon. The co-operation of the 
Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union has been asked for and accepted. 
Hence, as regards this question, we can look with equanimity into the future. 
Now, the big task in front of Australian ornithologists is the worldng out 
of the life-histories of their common birds, and the co-operation of members 
situated apart must be instituted. The general distribution of the majority 
of species is now fairly well known, but the particular habitats are not so 
clearly defined. There is much to do in this direction. 
With regard to assistance, I again have to thank Captain S. A. White, 
Dr. W. D. K. Macgillivray, Messrs. H. L. White, Tom Carter, Tom Tr^eUas, 
and many others whose names appear in the body of the volume. 
A complaint was made as to the extent of this work, and when facts were 
produced petty excuses were provided. 
The following appeared in the London papers of Sept. 6th, 1918, and 
will explain itself : — 
Rising Cost of Printing. — ^A meeting of over 200 members of the London 
Master Printers’ Association yesterday approved a further large advance in wages 
to the members of the fifteen printing trade unions in London. The London 
Costing Committee reported that this would necessitate an addition of at least 
15 per cent, to present charges for aU classes of printing, making a total 
increase since the war began of over 100 per cent, in addition to the greatly 
increased cost of paper and other materials. — Sept. 6, 1918. 
As this part concludes the non-Passerine birds and covers about hah the 
species to be dealt with, I have prepared a list giving the correct names and 
synonymy up to the time of publication, correlating with these the figures 
given by Gould and myself. 
GREGORY M. MATHEWS. 
Fotjlis Court, Fair Oak, Hants. 
12th June, 1919. 
xii. 
