r22 Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [ist "Ian 



latter. In Corea the people were not in such a high state of 

 civilisation as in Japan, Some rare birds were collected in this 

 province. In Vladivostock the travellers were naturally treated 

 with some suspicion, but matters were eventually settled, and 

 they were allowed to proceed on the Trans-Siberian railway. 

 Getting out at the River Lena they travelled 3,000 miles, princi- 

 pally by boat, to its mouth at the Arctic Ocean, where they took 

 photographs under a midnight sun. The great tracts of pine 

 forests were vividly described, as were the vast tundras — low, 

 marshy country, covered with moss and stunted vegetation from 

 18 inches to 3 feet in height, this latter country being the 

 breeding home of several wading birds — Grey and Golden 

 Plovers, Stilts, Sandpipers, &c. The journey up and down the 

 river was not undertaken without a great amount of labour and 

 discomfort. Continuing his journey through Moscow and 

 St. Petersburg, Mr. Hall returned to Australia, visiting 

 England, where the ornithological results of his trip were 

 published. 



Third Day. 



On Friday afternoon, the 13th October, the members of the 

 Union were entertained by Mr. A. C. Minchin at the Zoological 

 Gardens, where they inspected the animals and birds. The 

 latter attracted much attention from the specialists in this 

 branch of zoology. The beautiful Flamingoes in their pond 

 were specially admired, also the lovely white variety of Pea- 

 fowl. The native birds, in the new spacious wire-netting 

 enclosures, were objects on which the ornithologists dwelt for 

 some time, especially a cage set aside for confiscated birds 

 under the Birds Protection Act, which was then well stocked 

 with Shell Parrots or Warbling Grass-Parrakeets. Six or eight of 

 the rare Bourke Grass-Parrakeets, with the roseate under- 

 surfaces, were seen in the flesh for the first time by some of the 

 visitors, while in another aviary there was quite a rainbow of 

 Broad-tailed Parrots {Platycerci). Being the mating season, 

 many of the birds were " showing off," notably the Stone- 

 Plovers, Pacific Gulls, and a male Wild Turkey or Bustard. 

 The last- mentioned, by expanding his tail over his back and 

 inflating his neck to an abnormal size, was transformed into a 

 curious object as he strutted about. The party was afterwards 

 hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Minchin at afternoon 

 tea. A hearty vote of thanks was carried, and an expression of 

 approbation was given to the way in which the gardens were 

 being conducted. 



The final business meeting of the fifth annual session of the 

 Union was held in the Royal Society's room, Institute, North- 

 terrace, in the evening, when a number of interesting papers 



