^"'n^)'^ ] Monthly ConveYsaziones. 155 



Monthly Conversaziones of R.A.O.U. 



Tin; April .onvris.i/ioiir ..I the K.A.O.f. \v;is lidd on \\■r(llu•^(la\•. 

 /,r(l, and a .l;(iii(1 attendance of nn'nii)ri-s was ])resid('(l over l)y 

 Dr. (\ Sntton. Ai)olo,L;irs \wvv wcvWvd from Messrs. I'"inlay, 

 Anderson, and Ti'ei^ellas. Idie subject set down for the evening's 

 discussion was " W'ater-I-^irds," and was introduced by Mr. 

 W. H. I). I.e Souc'f, witli a series of most interesting lantern slides. 

 Mr. I.c Souef spoke about the various pictures screened, and gave 

 many interesting facts cuHed from numerous ornithological 

 expeditions. lie indicatt'd the.\-arious methods employed by 

 Ducks in getting their \-oimg from tri'i'-si)outs to the water, and 

 from one pond to another. Mr. A. M. Sullivan stated that he 

 once witntssed the method employed by an old Black Duck to 

 get her young down from a tree-spout to the creek. The spout 

 was immediately over the water, and the Duck alighted beneath 

 it and proceeded to quack very loudly. In a short time the young 

 ones appeared at the spout entrance and launched forth into 

 space. All succeeded in reaching the water without serious 

 mishaj). 



Mr. J. A. Ross communicated a splendid paper by Mr. C. Cole 

 upon the feeding habits of Cormorants that was particularly 

 acceptable in view of the recent prominence given to the subject 

 in the daily papers. Mr. Cole gave the results of the examination 

 of 25 specimens of three species of Cormorants collected over a 

 wide area in the Wangaratta district. These Cormorants were 

 procured at different hours of the day and in varying seasons. 

 The results of his work to date convinced him that the Cormorant 

 had his special niche to fill in the scale of nature. 



Mr. Mattingley outhned the arguments for and against Cor- 

 morants which had cropped up in the recent public discussion, 

 and deplored the fact that the Department of Game and Fisheries 

 was distributing cartridges for the destruction of Cormorants. 

 He stated that in times of war or stress a nation calls upon its 

 leading experts in the various l)ranches of activity to advise and 

 guide it to peace and prosperity. In the same way the Govern- 

 ment of the day should get the advice of the Empire's experts 

 before launching on a campaign of slaughter. He quoted the 

 opinions of the leading naturalists, ichthyologists, and other 

 scientific men, testifying that the Cormorant had its place to fill, 

 and far more harm than good would accrue from its destruction. 



Capt. Cochrane, of the Navy Department, was heartily con- 

 gratulated upon his promotion to the rank of Commander. 



A fine series of eggs of aquatic birds was tabled from the 

 Union's collection. 



The May conversazione of the R.A.O.U. was held in the Bird 

 Room at the National Museum on the 7th of the month, and there 

 was a good attendance of luembers. The evcMiing was spent in 

 examining and discussing the \-er\- line series of Mahiri contained 



