66 Campbell, A Commonwealth Collection. rist^"oci
White hopes to procure eggs and breeding information of the same. To this end, with commendable enterprise and at considerable expense, Mr. White has subsidized in the field such reliable collectors as H. G. Barnard (Queensland), S. W. Jackson (New South Wales), F. L. Whitlock (Western Australia), G. F. Hill (North- West Australia), and others. The collection thus acquired is undoubtedly a national one, and of the greatest value to its country. It is admitted that egg-collecting may be, and is sometimes, abused, but proper collecting is both scientific and popular ornithology. For, as Mr. Ray argues, "it would seem that equally as much of the science of life can be learned by the close study of the birds' habits, their eggs and nests, as by the study of their structure and their classification."
However, for all the material collected from home for Mr. White there is a "compensating balance." The broad acres (about 200,000) of "Belltrees" are a close sanctuary for all birds. In the five acres comprising the garden and orchard alone about 120 species are found during the year, a score of kinds remaining to breed. It is interesting to have Wood-Swallows {Artamiis) nesting on one's gate-post, Pardalotes laying in hollow spouts placed within a summer-house. Honey-eaters and Flycatchers building in the fruit trees, &c. According to Mr. White's observations, the majority of birds is increasing, notably Magpie-Lark (Grallina), Spotted-sided Finch (Stago no pleura guttata). Tits [Acanthizce), Crow and Magpie (Gymnorhina); but some species have decreased: the Emu is extinct; Stone (OEdicnenius grallarius) and Spurwinged Plovers [Lohivanellus lobatus) are scarce, no doubt due to the presence of foxes, 200 of which were poisoned on the estate one winter.
The critical examination of the oological collection, which now exceeds 800 Australian species, with data, together with over 1,000 bird-skins, occupied the best part of four days. The eggs are arranged in series, classified and registered, the work of arranging and recording having been most methodically and carefully performed by Mr. S. W. Jackson.[1] Any clutch of eggs that one chooses to name may be instantly inspected and its written data referred to, the arrangements are so excellent. The collections are contained in several handy cabinets, the drawers being divisioned, which adorn a spacious billiard-room (with fire-proof doors), where is also a library of ornithological works of reference, including Gould's great folio books. It matters not where a visitor begins inspecting—beauty of form and colour, not to mention information, is found in every casket (i.e., cabinet).
OBSERVATIONS.
We will follow no recognized scheme of classification, but simply
- ↑ After the pattern of the "Catalogue of the Jacksonian Collection," noticed in Emu, vol. vii., p. 201. (Mr. White acquired the Jackson collection.)
