J"'^''l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 33 



from the high standard of excellence of pievious volumes. The 

 thanks of the Club are agam to be accorded Mr. F. G. A. 

 Barnard for discharging the editorial duties in the same efficient 

 manner that has been a characteristic feature during his long 

 association of some twenty-five years with the position. 



" Whilst the Club's Saturday afternoon excursions were well 

 attended by members and their friends during the past twelve 

 months, the whole-day outings, on the contrary, were poorly 

 patronized, and, of the three extended excursions hsted, one 

 resulted in an attendance of three members and the other two 

 had to be abandoned for reasons that have already been 

 specified. As the result of past experience, it would seem that, 

 in the selection of localities for extended outings at Christmas 

 and at Easter, much better results would be achieved if 

 ' camp-outs ' were to be arranged, on such occasions, at places 

 little frequented by tourists and visitors — places where the 

 enthusiastic naturalist might wander about from mom to dewy 

 eve without fear of deprecating glances, by holiday-makers, 

 at his rough but serviceable working apparel, and where Nature, 

 unhampered to little or no extent by man's interference, might 

 be studied to the best advantage. In all probability, your 

 1916-17 committee, when compiling the next programme of 

 excursions, will give due consideration to this matter. 



" During the year an effort was made by an influential party 

 of sportsmen to induce the authorities to annul the Hattah- 

 Mournpoul native game sanctuary, which the Club was instru- 

 mental in having reserved a short time pre\nous. Becoming 

 aware of the movement, your committee entered an emphatic 

 protest against the abrogation of the sanctuary, or the curtail- 

 ment of its area. The representations made in support of the 

 preservation of this sanctuary by the Club and kindred societies 

 were such as to effectually dispel any apprehension of it being 

 again the scene of wanton slaughter, and to earn for it the 

 distinction of being the most ideal of its kind in the State. 



" More recently your committee interested themselves on 

 behalf of the honey-eaters, which are now only accorded pro- 

 tection from the ist July to the 14th February next following 

 — a totally inadequate recompense for the undoubted large 

 and valuable part played by this interesting family in the 

 economy of nature. The result of their representations is not 

 yet available, but Mr. F. Lewis, Acting Chief Inspector for 

 Fisheries and Game, has signified his intention of recommending 

 the Minister that honey-eaters, with the exception of the 

 Wattle-bird and the Leatherhead, be included in the list of 

 protected birds for the whole year. 



" Since the last annual report was presented, the Club,^as 

 well as the Royal Society, the Australian Association for the 



