Muuthlv Cotiversuziunes. 



157 



the Maskftl. Mr. M'Lninan stated that when the flocks of Grey 

 Plovers reached Australia in tlieir migration they were not mixed 

 with other birds, but tliat when flocking up on the northern coast, 

 on their return journey, they wi-ri' mixt'd uj) witli many other 

 migratory species. Wv often notictd tliat hundreds of these 

 birds would with one accord rise up into tlie air, and, after 

 circling round for a time, settle again. Mr. F. E. Wilson stated 

 that he liad found the nest of tlie Spur- wing Plover close to that 

 of a \\'hite-heade(l Stilt, apparently in perfect agreement. Mr. 

 Stone mentioned tiiat the aboriginals in the Malice district, near 

 Boort, stated that the reason why their native name of " Whee-la " 

 was given them was because a long time ago an Eagle took an 

 infant away from its mother, and her cries of distress — " Whee-la " 

 — were imitated by the Plovers, and they have uttered that note 

 ever since. Mr. Mattingley stated liow he had seen a parent 

 Spur-wing Plover with its young chicks. A dingo had scented 

 them, and slowly came towards them ; but the parent l)ird kept 

 just out of reach of the dingo. He tried again and again to catch 

 it by springing at it, but without success. When the Plover had 

 led the dingo far away from her treasures she flew away. Mr. 

 J. L. Menzies had also noticed the same thing with these birds. 



Mr. D. Le Souef showed some lantern views of Southern Stone 

 and Spur-wing Plovers, both of adult and young, as well as nests, 

 showing how they keep their heads flat on the ground when 

 sitting on the nest or seeking to escape observation, and also how 

 wonderfully the young resemble the ground on which they croucli. 

 He also stated that he had seen the Spur-wing Plover prevent a 

 sheep and also a cow from walking over its eggs by persistently 

 flapping its wings in the animal's face and so making it alter its 

 course. 



The chairman. Dr. MacGillivray, just returned from active ser- 

 vice abroad, made some interesting observations regarding the 

 habits of these birds, especially in North Queensland. 



A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Surgeon-General Sir 

 Charles S. Ryan for his gift to the Union of some well-mounted 

 specimens of the Little Eagle, White Goshawk, Sacred Kingfisher 

 (with nest and eggs), and the Reed- Warbler (with nest and eggs). 



A conversazione of the Union was held on the first Wednesday 

 in August, as usual, at 2 Temple Court, Melbourne. The subject 

 was " Herons." An interesting paper on the subject, by Mr. 

 H. W. Ford, was read, and a discussion followed. Mr. Le Souef 

 showed about 30 interesting lantern slides of these birds, including 

 the Jabiru, Native Companion, Herons, Ibis, &c., and also illus- 

 trated their nesting and young. Mr. Stone read some interesting 

 notes on the hal)its of these liirds from his catalogue of birds' eggs. 

 A note was read from Mr. A. J. Campl)ell, asking tliat, should 

 any member find any Cuckoos' eggs this season, to leave them, 

 and by so doing identify the parents. 



