A NATURE LOVER IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 105, 27 January 1940, Page 15

A NATURE LOVER IN AUSTRALIA

“Koonwarra,” by Charles Barrett (Oxford University Press.) “Koonwarra,” an aboriginal name for the black swan, is the record of a naturalist’s adventures in Australia. A better companion than Mr. Barrett for wandering through remote regions of the Commonwealth would be hard to find anywhere. He has spent 40 years enthusiastically investigating in the cause of science, and this enthusiasm shows clearly in his writings. The wonders of nature have an irresistible attraction for him, anything unusual in bird, beast, tree or flower claims his instant attention and personal inconvenience and hardship mean nothing when the chance occurs of observing some rare species.

Mr. Barrett has visited the haunts of the black swan in lonely Victorian swamps, watched geese, gannets and the albatross among the Bass Strait islands, parrots and pigeons in Queensland, sought orchids and other plants so desirous in his eyes and in fact explored all over the continent, always alert, always cheerful and as much interested in his fellow men as in collecting and observing. lie writes easily, introduces a host of pleasant characters and succeeds in imparting to the reader something of the fascination which his subject holds for him. The book is exceptionally well illustrated, mostly with photographs taken by the author.