124 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
REVIEW. 
AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK:—This is the title 
of a most excellent work on Australian bird-life, from the 
able pen of Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc., who is the Organising 
Inspector of Nature Study in the Education Department of 
Victoria. This is the book that we have all been waiting 
for. We have, perhaps, been more fortunate in the litera- 
ture of our birds than we have in most of the other divisions 
of our Australian fauna, and a number of highly valuable 
works have at various times been produced, yet without de- 
tracting in any way from the value of these it may be said 
that nothing that has yet come before the public so eminently 
meets our general needs, as does this ‘‘Australian Bird-Book.”’ 
In the small space of 190 pages is contained in the form of 
a continuous lecture, a great mass of closely-printed general 
information dealing with all the groups, and many of the 
individual species of our birds. (One might suggest that 1t 
is too closely printed, were it not for the fact that it has been 
the aim of those who produced it to keep the whole work in 
as small a compass as possible.) In addition there is a pro- 
perly classified list of 395 species of birds in which helpful 
references and general particulars likely to be of aid in mak- 
ing determinations, are given. There are several hundreds of 
illustrations, of which no less than 168 are coloured, and 
these, though small, are really admirable. It is not too ex- 
travagant to say that this little work will be epoch-making, 
and will go far towards making that true patriotism which 
is so desirable—a patriotism which finds its origin in a love of 
the wild things of our land, rather than that which is found- 
ed upon an empty map, which conveys nothing. ‘There is a 
nicely written introduction by Mr. Frank Tate, the Director 
of Education in Victoria. 
It is pleasing to note that Mr. Leach’s book has been 
taken up by the Departments of Education in Victoria, South, 
Australia and Queensland. 
The book is as much a credit. to the publishers as it is 
to the author, and its low price (3/6) places it-within reach. 
of everyone. ” 
DAVID G. STEAD. 
