°' g J Australasian Ornifhologisis' Union. 121 



birds are quite at home. Many of the occupants breed and rear 

 their young better perhaps than if they were totally free. 

 Various species of Cockatoos and Parrots were seen, from an 

 exceptionally large White Cockatoo {Cacatiia galeritd) down to 

 the pretty little Warbling Grass-Parrakeet {Melopsittacus juidu- 

 latiis) and Elegant Grass-Parrot {NeopJiejiia elegans), both of the 

 latter having their young and eggs in the nests. Native Doves 

 and Pigeons of all varieties and Finches were in the collections, 

 and several species of Quail roamed over the ground floors of the 

 aviaries. One of the Swamp- Quail {Symvcus aiistralis) was 

 observed sitting on her nest of nine or ten eggs, Stone-Plovers 

 {GLdicnei>ins grallarius) were exceedingly tame, while Wild 

 Ducks, Maned Geese, &:c., were quite at home. Cape Barren 

 Geese {Cereopsis iiovce-Jiollandice) breed in wire-netting en- 

 closures. After bidding adieu to Holmfirth and its hospitable 

 family the visitors repaired to Weetunga, Capt. S. A. White's 

 picturesque home. The Captain cordially received the party, 

 and showed them a portion of his large collection of African 

 birds that he secured at the close of the Boer war. Surprise 

 was expressed at the magnitude of the collection, and the 

 amount of hard work entailed in securing and preserving them. 

 Afternoon tea was presided over by Capt. White's mother and 

 sister (Mrs. Samuel and Miss Eva White). A hearty vote of 

 thanks was accorded to those who had so hospitably entertained 

 the visitors. 



There was a large and appreciative audience at the University 

 Theatre, North-terrace, in the evening, when Mr. Robert Hall, 

 F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., gave a lecture upon his travels in the Far East, 

 entitled " A Naturalist's Tour through Japan, Corea, Manchuria, 

 and Siberia." Sir Samuel Way, Bart., occupied the chair, and 

 extended a hearty welcome to the lecturer. 



Mr. Hall stated that he had been able, during his three months' 

 sojourn in Siberia and Manchuria, to collect and make the first 

 list of birds for that country. It included 402 skins, and had 

 been favourably reported on in London by naturalists. The 

 lecture was illustrated by a large number of specially coloured 

 characteristic photo, slides from scenes taken throughout the 

 journey. The proceeds of the lecture will be placed to the credit 

 of the coloured figure fund of The Emu, the official journal of 

 the Union. Mr. Hall was accompanied by Mr. R. M Trebilcock, 

 of Geelong, and the journey was of peculiar interest, because it 

 was undertaken just previous to the recent great war. The 

 tourists arrived in Japan in early spring. They were, Mr. Hall 

 said, delighted with the country and its inhabitants, which were 

 aptly termed " The land and people of smiles." Japan and Aus- 

 tralia were closely connected as far as their avifauna were con- 

 cerned. The Snipe, two species of Swifts, besides several other 

 kinds of birds, nested in the former country and wintered in the 



