44 Better Protection for Victorian Birds. ^^^ 



Emu 

 July 



scrub — leptospermum, acacia, " blue bush," &c., besides grass, 

 &c. 



From the foregoing- remarks it will be noticed that all the 

 rookeries are in good and natural condition except the small 

 ones on Red Cliff and the Nobby respectively. Although the 

 season was ripe for birding parties for oil, food, &c., I did 

 not hear of any being at work. The chief traffic in connec- 

 tion with the birds is evidently during egging season. The 

 idea of registering names and addresses of eggers might be 

 tried as an experiment the ensuing season. No doubt Mr. C. 

 W. Maclean, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, who administers the 

 Game Act (and to whom I have forwarded a similar report to 

 this), will take action in the matter, and cause some arrange- 

 ments to be made for taking the census of egg-gatherers, with 

 a view of ascertaining, and, if necessary, regulating the traffic* 



I cannot close this report without expressing my indebtedness 

 to the brothers Smith for their very willing assistance to me 

 while inspecting the various rookeries. — Archd. J. Campbell. 



Better Protection for Victorian Birds, 



" History repeats itself" Some years ago the Field 

 Naturalists' Club of Victoria bestirred itself in the matter of the 

 better protection of our useful and ornamental indigenous birds. -f- 

 The Commissioner of the day, v/ho administered the Game Act, 

 was interviewed by deputation, with the result that the schedule 

 of protected birds was considerably augmented, and took nearly 

 its present form. 



With the experience of 17 years, and some of the species 

 still decreasing in number, the Club has moved again, 

 appointing as a sub-committee Messrs. G. A. Keartland, D. Le 

 Souef, and Robert Hall — by the way, all members of the Aust. 

 O.U. — to bring up recommendations. Judging by the report 

 {vide Naturalist, pp. 5-7, May, 1902) the sub-committee must 

 have worked most assiduously, especially Mr. Keartland, upon 

 whom devolved all the secretarial work. 



The following are the amendments proposed to close seasons 

 on the present schedule : — 



* Mr. Maclean has already moved in the matter, and upon his recommendation the 

 Minister of Public Works by proclamation will close the Red Cliff and Nobby 

 rookeries for four years from September next. Notice boards' to that effect will be 

 erected at the landing and other places on the island. Notices will also be posted 

 requiring egg-gatherers to the " open" rookeries to register their names and addresses. 

 Mr. A. P. Smith, Cowes, has been appointed an Assistant Inspector under the Act 

 to see these regulations carried out locally. — A. J. C. 



t See "The Protection of Our Native Birds," Vicfona/i Naturalist, vol. i., 

 p. 161 (Feb., 1885), and Southern Science Record, vol. i. (New Series), p. 57 (March, 

 1885). 



