°9o6 J Australasian Or)iithologists Union. Iig 



Chukar Partridges (Caccabis chukar) were also introduced, z^, 

 being turned out in 1864, 13 more in 1865, and 8 in 1872, as well 

 as some French Partridges in 1873 ; but they were too few to be 

 of any value, and were soon lost sight of. 



In 1864, 80 Chinese Quail {Excalfactoria chinensis) were liberated 

 near Melbourne and 70 at Phillij:) Island, and 60 more in 1872 ; they 

 are closely allied to the King Quail, and may easily be mistaken for 

 that bird, unless handled. I think they have disaj^peared, but 

 there may still be a few about that have escaped observation or 

 been mistaken for the King Quail. 



Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) have been liberated in consider- 

 able numbers in various parts of Victoria, and in some cases, where 

 care is taken, they have thriven, but in other cases, where they were 

 left to themselves, such as in the Gembrook Reserve, they gradually 

 decreased, their principal enemies being poisoned grain, bush fires, 

 and iguanas or monitor lizards, domestic cats gone wild, tiger cats, 

 and native cats, besides being occasionally shot by the pot-hunter. 

 Eight were first liberated in 1864 at Phillip Island, 30 in 1870, 15 

 in 1871, 70 in 1872, and over 100 in 1873. These were all liberated 

 by the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, but many 

 more were turned out by private people of which no record has been 

 kept. The Society also sent hundreds of eggs away to various 

 people in different parts of the State. For a time it was thought 

 that these fine birds would become established, as they have done 

 in some parts of New Zealand, and they undoubtedly would have 

 in several places but for poisoned grain being laid for rabbits. The 

 Pheasants picked this up, and were soon exterminated, conse- 

 quently it is now very little use trying to acchmatise this bird 

 except in restricted districts, unless some means are devised to 

 prevent them getting the poisoned grain. 



The last on my list is the Mallard or English Wild Duck {Anas 

 boschas). Forty were liberated in 1871 in the Botanical Gardens, 

 Melbourne, and 80 more in 1872. They bred freely, and the young 

 that were reared flew away with the Black Ducks in the autumn ; 

 there were also a few hybrids between the two varieties ; but the 

 Mallards gradually decreased in number, and have now practically 

 disappeared. 



From the foregoing notes it will be seen that a variety of birds 

 was introduced at one time and another, but that comparatively 

 few obtained a foothold in the country, and those are Starlings, 

 Thrushes, Blackbirds, Sparrows, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Indian 

 Minahs, Indian Doves, and Skylarks, and it is possible there may 

 be a few Chaffinches holding their own, as well as Chinese Quail. 

 None of these birds are increasing very fast, except, perhaps, the 

 Starling and Sj^arrow, and at present the latter bird is by far the 

 most widely distributed in Australia. 



Nkw Mkmbeks and Oi-fice-Bearkr.s. 



The following new members were elected, viz. : — Victoria — 

 Surgeon-General Williams, E.J. Forbes, J. A. Ross, J. PVeeman, 



