334 Monthly Conversaziones. [,^!'\"rii 



Mr. C. J. Wilson, a member of the British Ornithologists' Union, 

 was welcomed by the chairman. This is x\Ir. Wilson's first visit 

 to Australia, and he had, in company with the general hon. sec- 

 retary, been fortunate enough to witness, at the reserve near Bel- 

 grave, a male Lyre-bird performing in the presence of two female 

 , birds — a most interesting and rare sight. 



Mr. E. Ashby-, M.B.O.U., from South Australia, was also pre- 

 sent and gave a very instructive address on Humming-Birds, 

 exhibiting about 50 skins. He was anxious to have these useful 

 and beautiful birds, if possible, acclimatized in Australia. 



Mr. R. Zietz, R.A.O.U., of the Adelaide Museum, was also 

 present, and showed samples of soft-shelled almonds whicli had 

 had holes made in them by the imported Goldfinch in order 

 to procure the kernel inside. It is difficult to realize that these 

 small birds should be able to do this. The holes were small and 

 just large enough to enable the bird to secure its food. 



The principal item of the evening was the inspection of the 

 interesting collection of birds' skins which had been received 

 from Mr. H. L. White, of New South Wales, to add to the " H. L. 

 White Collection " in the National Museum. Mr. A. J. Campbell 

 kindly had all the skins on the table, and mentioned that " he 

 had had a previous opportunity of examining the skins collected 

 by Mr. W. M'Lennan, R.A.O.U.", on Moa Island, Torres Strait, and 

 that there were specimens (all in prime condition) representing 65 

 species, of which about 50 were common to both Australia and 

 New Guinea ; they were a valuable collection. As a general rule 

 it was observed that some of the birds were slightly smaller in 

 size and lighter coloured than the same species obtained on the 

 mainland of Australia, where the forest growth would be thicker. 

 Especially interesting was a fine pair of Grass-Owls {Strix Candida), 

 a fine series of Oriental Pratincoles {Glareola orientalis), a series 

 of the Northern Cuckoo (C. optatns), and a dark phase of the 

 Wliite-rumped Swift {Cypseliis pacificiis)." 



Attention was also rivetted on a pair of Scrub-Birds {Alyichornis 

 riifescens), collected by Mr. S. W. Jackson in South Queensland, 

 the female being the first ever taken, besides the rare species 

 being for the first time recorded in Queensland. Mr. Jackson 

 also collected the Olive Thickhead {Pachycephala oHvacea). Both 

 of these birds are described by Mr. H. L. White in tlie April 

 Emu as new sub-species. 



Report on the R.A.O.U. Oological Collection. 



During the last twelve months some fine additions to the I'nion 

 collection of birds' eggs have been made by Messrs. P. T. Sandlands, 

 C. L. Orton, P. A. Gilbert, and A. F. Basset Hull, with promises 

 of further fine sets to follow. A few photographs have been 

 received, but nothing like what would have been expected. The 

 following blanks (according to the Union " Check-list," 1013) 

 want filling, and it is hoped that members and friends will 



