Vol. 

 1902 



2 J About Members. AJ 



wide and 75 long. It is hard work going over them. I ex- 

 plored one deep gorge with precipitous cliffs and found a great 

 cave a long way up, witJi water dripping into two pools on the 

 floor. It was evidently a harbour for wild dogs, for their tracks 

 were plainly seen about the cave. Next day I shot an Emu at 

 a pool in the gorge, 2 miles lower down, and laboriously 

 carried half of it, and after much exertion and narrow escapes 

 of having bad falls, I got it inside and poisoned. I had with 

 me my gun and rifle, and my dog was knocked up, its feet 

 being completely skinned. There were lots of Painted Finches 

 {Emblema picta) in the gorge watering, but I failed to find any 

 nests. I saw 30 perched on one giant boulder — it was a 

 beautiful sight. I shot a pair of strange birds (Shrike- 

 Robins ?) in the mangroves, which I cannot make out ; they 

 may be new." 



Obituary Notice. 



SNOWBALL.— On the 22nd April, at "Nahoo," Narracan, Gippsland, William 

 Snowball, M.B., aged 47 years. 



The general regret felt in widely spread medical circles at the 

 death of Dr. William Snowball is nowhere more keenly felt 

 than in the more inner circle of his ornithological friends and 

 acquaintances. 



Dr. Snowball was a keen naturalist, and lover of natural 

 history books, and knew their value well. Although he had not 

 much spare time to devote to ornithology, he had amassed an 

 oological collection of considerable value, many of the specimens 

 being unique. Naturally, the Doctor took much interest in the 

 Aust. O.U., and was present at the initiatory ornithological 

 dinners — the historical " beginnings," so to speak, of the Union. 

 We shall miss his influence and kind advice much. 



The Coloured Figure Fund. 



The Council of the Aust. O.U. hope shortly to increase the 

 usefulness of The Eiim by the insertion of a coloured plate of 

 one or the other of hitherto unfigured birds. The following- 

 subscriptions have been received towards the fund : — Dr. C. 

 Ryan (Melbourne), ^i ; Mr. R. B. Ritchie (Penshurst), 6s. ; Col. 

 Legge (Hobart), 6s. ; T. Cullen (Wahgunyah), 5s. ; Rev. W. 

 Fielder, is.' 8d. ; Mr. A. Mattingley (H.M. Customs), a promise 

 not exceeding £\, when required. 



