D2 Correspondence. ist iul • 



city with all these murdered " protected " birds in his possession. 

 The imposition of a ten-shilling gun-tax annually would put an 

 immediate stop to a vast deal of this useless slaughter, and the 

 sooner it comes the better for our birds and our farmers also. 

 The State Government is often at its wits' end to make up a 

 revenue, yet here is a method by which a considerable sum 

 could be raised annually without injuring anyone, for a gun is 

 no more necessary here for protection than it is in England, 

 where the ten -shilling tax has obtained so long, and which 

 country is full of delightful wild songsters. With regard to the 

 wholesale poisoning of native fauna, this is, if possible, a still 

 more serious question, and one worthy of all consideration and 

 discussion in the pages of The Emu. — Yours, &c., 



H. STUART DOVE. 

 Launceston, Tasmania, 8th May, 1907. 



Bird Observers' Club. 



Thk ((Liarterly dinner was held in Melbourne on 26th February, 1907, when 

 thirteen members were present. Before commencing the business of the 

 evening Mr. Leach was congratulated by the chairman (Mr. D. Le Souef) 

 on his taking the degree of Master of Science of the Melbourne University, 

 and also on his appointment to an important position in the Education 

 Department in connection with nature study. It was resolved, on the 

 motion of Mr. A. J. Campbell, seconded by Mr. C. L. Barrett — "That the 

 Premier be written to protesting against the Waranga Basin or any other 

 reserve being opened by a Minister of the Crown for shooting purposes." 

 The exhibits of the evening were plentiful and varied. Mr. G. Shepherd 

 showed nests and eggs of Jardine Caterpillar-eater and Leaden-coloured 

 Flycatcher. Mr. A. G. Campbell showed a fine series of skins of the 

 birds of Mornington district found within a quarter of a mile of the 

 coast ; total, 32 species, of which 1 1 are in Tasmania unaltered, 9 are 

 in Tasmania represented by an insular form, 13 are in north-west 

 Victoria, 21 are in north-east Victoria, 24 are in south-west Victoria, 

 and all in Gippsland and around Melbourne. Mr. A. G. Campbell also 

 exhilDited skins of adult and fledgling of Pc/at^adroiiin inaritia (White-faced 

 vStorm-Petrel) ; and interesting accounts of their habits and their rookeries 

 were given by Messrs. Catnpbell and Mattingley, who have recently 

 visited Cygnet (Mud) Island. Mr. Mattingley showed a fine series of 

 pictures of the Pilot-Bird {Pycnoptiius floccosus)^ showing nest and eggs, 

 birds feeding young, and bird at nest. Mr. Mattingley is to be compli- 

 mented for his patience and success in bird photography, as this is a branch 

 of nature study that appeals to the student and collector alike. 



On 25th March, 1907, the ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held 

 at the residence of Dr. Charles Ryan, the host being voted to the chair. 

 Fourteen memliers were present, and apologies were received from four 

 others. Mr. Hill's resignation as a member was accepted, as he had left 

 the State. On a ballot being taken, Mr. Isaac Batey, of Drouin, Vic, was 

 unanimously elected a corresponding member of the Club. The subject for 

 the evening's discussion was "Nocturnal Birds of Prey." Many fine 

 specimens of Owls were exhibited by Messrs. Le Souef, A. G. Campbell, 

 Mattingley, and Ryan. Mr. Le Souiif pointed out the difterence of plumage 

 existing in various Podargi and other night birds, and holds the belief that 



