74 ^^''^ Observers' Club. [ E'»" , 



' ' , Li^-t July 



whether the good they do in this direction is commensurate with 

 the loss sustained by the destruction of our birds. 



GERALD F. HILL. 

 Darwin, Northern Territory, nth Feb., 1915. 



Bird Observers' Club. 



The monthly meeting of the Bird Observers' Club was held at the 

 Olderfleet Tea Rooms, Melbourne, on 21st April, 1915. :\Ir. D. 

 Le Souef, president, occupied the chair. Mr. K. M'Meiken was the 

 host. Mr. F. E. Wilson read a report of the sub-committee appointed 

 to deal -vvith the question of "ringing" birds. An interesting letter 

 from Dr. H. W. Bryant, describing his experiences on a visit to the 

 Cairo Zoo, was read. Several members mentioned the extraordinary- 

 movements of birds owing to the drought conditions. Many birds, 

 it was stated, found it difficult to find food on account of the scarcity 

 of insect life. The president read a copy of the measure that had 

 been passed in the United States of America prohibiting the im- 

 portation of all plumes except those of domestic poultry and 

 Ostriches. The president showed a copy of the new list of British 

 birds, compiled by a committee of the B.O.U. 



Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., retiring president, occupied the chair at 

 the annual meeting of the Club, held on 26th May, at The Olderfleet 

 Tea Rooms, Melbourne. The annual report stated that many valuable 

 papers had been read at the meetings, while numbers of lantern slides 

 were shown and interesting specimens exhibited. Attention had been 

 given to bird protection and other important matters. Six members, 

 who were serving the Empire, had been given extended leave of 

 absence. The balance-sheet showed the financial position was very 

 satisfactory. The following office-bearers were elected : — President, 

 Mr. Charles Barrett ; hon. secretarj-, Mr. George Finlay ; hon. treasurer, 

 Mr. G. Dyer. 



Mr. Barrett, in sketching the history of the Club, said that it was 

 born on 12th April, 1905, when a number of enthusiastic bird-lovers 

 met at his residence, Were-street, Brighton Beach. Those present 

 were Messrs. A. J. Campbell (who presided), F. E. Howe, A. H. E. 

 Mattingley, D. Le Souef, J. A. Kershaw, C. F. Belcher, A. G. Campbell, 

 Fred. Godfrey, R. P. Godfrey, C. P. Kinane, and C. Barrett. Several 

 others had been invited, but were unable to attend. After a full and free 

 discussion, the meeting decided that a Bird Observers' Club should be 

 formed, number of members to be limited to 25. All the founders of 

 the Club were still living, but some had, for different reasons, ceased 

 to be members. Before the Club was formed " bird men " in Mel- 

 bourne were wont to meet occasionally at each other's homes, to chat 

 over field observations and exhibit and exchange specimens ; many 

 delightful bush rambles were also made in company. The idea of the 

 Club must have been floating in several minds before steps were taken 

 to give it practical shape. The Club had had some vicissitudes, but it 

 had never languished, and to-day it was more firmly established than 

 ever. 



Mr. Le Souef gave a most interesting lecture on " Birds' Nests and 

 Eggs," illustrated by a fine series of lantern slides from photographs 

 taken in many parts of AustraUa. 



