jyo Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [^^^^ "j",, 



J. Macquarie, Esq., Governor." The walls inside are covered with 

 inscriptions and mural tablets dedicated to the memory of the early 

 explorers and pioneers of Australia — Bass, Flinders, Wentworth, 

 Blaxland, and many others being amongst the number. The 

 memorial tablet to John Gilbert is surmounted by a small marble 

 relief depicting a figure resting under a palm with a tent in the 

 background. (For inscription see Plate XV.) The wreath was 

 hung by Mr. J. W. Mellor (President), assisted by Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell (ex-President). It was composed of the following 

 Australian flowers : — Waratah, flannel -flower, bottle-brush (red), 

 Christmas bells, hakea, grevillea, callistemon, melaleuca, bridal- 

 bush, leptospermum, orchids, and ferns. 



During the service the rector of St. James' (Rev. W. F. Went- 

 worth Sheilds, M.A.) referred to a letter written by Gilbert to Dr. 

 George Bennett stating with what great pleasure he (Gilbert) was 

 looking forward to the expedition. The rector also, in a few 

 eloquent sentences, referred to Gilbert's devotion to ornithological 

 science, and said he was not at all surprised that ornithologists in 

 Session in the city should prompt such a befitting memorial service. 

 At the close of the service the Lord's Prayer was repeated, the 

 rector pronounced the benediction, and all remained standing for 

 a while in silent tribute to the memory of John Gilbert. 



Little is known about Gilbert. He was apparently a taxidermist 

 in the employment of Gould, who sent him as collector to Western 

 Australia in 1840. He returned to England with his cohection the 

 following year, and shortly again visited Western Australia, and 

 afterwards Northern Australia, where he met his tragic death by 

 the hands of treacherous natives, 28th June, 1845. 



An account of this tragic occurrence is furnished in Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell's " Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds," p. 330, under 

 the heading of the " Black-backed Tree Creeper {Climacteris 

 melanota)," which bird poor Gilbert procured on the day of his 

 lamented death. Interesting side-lights on Gilbert's personality 

 are also given in Mr. Campbell's book— Introduction, p. x., while 

 the " Records of the Australian Museum, vol. vi., p. 125, have other 

 interesting references to good Gilbert. 



[There is a descrepancy about the exact date of Gilbert's death 

 — the tablet shows 29th June, whereas Gould states the 28th June. 

 Reference to Leichhardt's Journal (1847), p. 309, shows the latter 

 date to be correct.] 



Visit to the Mitchell Library. 



The importance of this library for early Australian ornithological 

 works demanded a special visit during the Sydney Session of the 

 R.A.O.U. But it was not tih after its close that a few inter-State 

 members, including the President (Mr. J. W. Mellor), and led by 

 Mr. G. J. Broinowski, the veteran author and bird-painter, were 

 kindly received by the librarian in charge (Mr. Wright). 



The original drawings, bound in volumes, of the late Sylvester 

 Diggles (Queensland) were greatly admired, some probably being 



