Pacific Birds

Scenes to be Shown in New York Museum

A NOVEL departure in the presen tation of bird specimens has been adopted by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, for its Whitney Wing, showing Pacific Bird Life.

A typical Islands scene, chosen to match a particular latitude, is built in miniature, and the birds indigenous to that locality are suspended on invisible wires to fit into the setting. For ex ample, an atoll of the Tuamotu archi pelago has been modelled, and several birds are shown flying towards a pound ing coral reef against a strong trade wind. The lagoon shows faintly behind, swaying coconut palms and pandanus trees giving a realistic touch.

According to the “Fiji Times”, Fiji will shortly be represented in the museum. A U.S. scientist, Mr. G. E.

Petersen, is at present in the Colony collecting specimens of leaves and other local colour, so that a typical Fiji bird scene may be duplicated to the smallest detail.

MEMBERS of the Australian Parlia ment, especially Mr. E. Ward, have been directing attention to the la mentable condition of Lord Howe Island.

Over 100 people there are dependant upon Australian tourist traffic, and, since the shipping service, at the outbreak of war became six-weekly instead of three weekly, tourist traffic has almost dis appeared. Federal authorities are sym pathetic, but cannot do much about it, apparently.

Miss C. Weston has completed 21 years service with the Methodist Mission in Fiji