l66 Correspondence. [.sf"jan- 



To the Editors of " T/ie £11111!' 

 Sirs,— In the last number of 77ic Emu (page 104, vol. vii.), you 

 ask — " Have cage birds (of Syncccns australis) been taken to 

 and liberated in New Zealand, or have wild birds emigrated ? " 

 On page 127 of The Ibis for January, 1893, occurs the following 

 sentence : — " It is very unsatisfactory to learn that the supposed 

 bevies of the New Zealand Quail (Coturnix nov(£-zealandi(E) 

 asserted to have been recently met with in the Three Kings 

 Islands {cf. Birds N.Z., i., p. 228, footnote), turn out to belong to 

 the Brown Quail {Syucecus australis), introduced from Australia, 

 and that the native species is undoubledly extinct." — I am, &c., 



TOM CARTER. 

 Broome Hill (VV.A.), 28th Oct., 1907. 



Bird Observers^ Club. 



The September meeting of the Club was held at the residence of Dr. H. 

 W. Bryant, Toorak. There were present Messrs. Cole, Campbell, Chandler, 

 Howe, Mattingley, Ross, Barrett, Nicholls, and Surgeon-General Williams. 

 Apologies were received from Messrs. G. Shepherd, R. Hall, Spowers, 

 Batey, and Dr. Home. The subject for discussion was " Cuckoos." Mr. 

 Christian, of Raywood, forwarded some field notes, and Mr. Batey, of 

 Drouin (Vic), contributed a paper. Can Cuckoos time the extrusion of the 

 egg? was an interesting point raised by Mr. Mattingley. Mr. Cole exhibited 

 a young Cuckoo {C. pallidus) reaied in nest of White-plumed Honey-eater 

 {Piilotis penicillata). Skins of Dryniaccdiis brunneipyoia^ Pardalotus 

 xanthopygius., P. oriiatus, Mahirus 7/ieianotui\ Pachycephala gilbcrti, and 

 Cificlor'haviplius rufcscens were exhibited by Messrs. Mattingley, Ross, and 

 Howe, obtained by them in the Mallee scrubs. Dr. Bryant exhibited many 

 beautiful forms of aquatic birds. Mr. J. N. Tregallas was elected a member, 

 on the motion of Mr. J. A. Ross, seconded by Mr. A. J. Campbell. 

 It was resolved that the hon. secretary write congratulating Mr. 

 Robert Hall on his obtaining the curatorship to the Hobart Museum. 

 After supper a hearty vote of thanks to the host terminated a pleasant and 

 interesting meeting. 



On i6th October the Club met at the residence of Surgeon-General 

 Williams, when fourteen members were present. Apologies were received 

 from Messrs. Campbell, Christian, liatey, Barrett, and Nicholls. The host 

 was voted to the chair. The subject for discussion was " Herons." Two 

 country members (Messrs. Batey and Christian) sent notes. Mr. Cole 

 exhibited three mounted specimens of the Night-Heron {Nycticorav 

 calcdonicus) — two in immature plumage, and one adult male in beautiful 

 feather. Mr. Mattingley exhibited a clutch of four eggs of the Plumed 

 Egret {Mcsophoyx pluniifcra). This bird is apparently rare, and he and 

 Mr. Ross share the honour of taking the first authentic clutch. Surgeon- 

 General Williams exhibited many beautiful forms too numerous to 

 individualise here, but one case, containing Night-Herons, White-fronted 

 and Pacific Herons, White and Plumed Egrets, and Bitterns, was specially 

 admired by the visiting members. After supper the host took members 

 through his well-appointed rooms, and delighted them with his many fine 

 curios, works of art, native implements, &c. 



The quarterly dinner of the Club was held at the Mia-Mia Tea Rooms, 

 Collins-street, Melbourne, 20th November. There were present Messrs. 



