We read that "the Garganey or Blue-winged Teal (Querquedula circia) of Europe has been added to the list of Australian avifauna, as a pair have been identified that were shot at Lake Connewarre, near Geelong (Victoria)."
The important and well-known ornithological collection of Mr. H.E. Dresser has been acquired by the Manchester Museum (Owens College), through the munificence of a wealthy resident, who elects to be anonymous. This collection is essentially a student's collection, Mr. Dresser having collected a series of all but the very rarest species to show changes of plumage, variation arising from geographical distribution, &c.; and there are no real duplicates, as these have been most carefully weeded out, and all the skins are first class ones. The Palæarctic collection is the most complete, for of the 743 species (according to the last calculation) found in the Western Palæarctic Area, about 725 are fully represented; and besides these there are about 260 strictly Eastern Palæarctic and allied species. All those figured and described in the 'Birds of Europe' are marked, and most of the labels bear notes by the leading ornithologists who have worked at the collection from time to time. Besides the Palæarctic collection, there is a collection of Bee-Eaters, comprising about thirty species, used by Mr. Dresser in writing his 'Monograph of the Bee-Eaters,' and one of Rollers (about twenty-six species), used in writing the monograph of those birds. Altogether the collection comprises about 1040 species and fully 10,000 specimens, and contains a fair number of types.
It is with the greatest regret that we have to announce the death of our very old and esteemed contributor, Mr. John Cordeaux, of Great Cotes House, Lincoln. We hope to publish a full obituary notice in our next issue.
