The South Au.'ttralian Ornithological Astociatton. 97 



The rest of tlie eveniiij;' ms taken u]) in coinparin'i- and (lis 

 .•ussinji tlie I'ollowin.u si)eeies of Maiuridae— M. nielanotns, M. 

 splendens, M. callaiiius, M. leueoptei-ns. M. cvanotus. 



—Meeting- held on L'Tth Angust, 1!)lM).— 



Mr. Edwin Ashby presided. 



A letter was received from the Hon. Minister of Indnstry, 

 asking for a report on the alleged fruit-eating habits of the (iold 

 finch. It was decided to adjourn this discussion until the next 

 meeting, to enable members to consult their notebooks, and 

 secure further data, and the secretary was insti'ucted to wi-ite 

 the Hon. Minister to this effect. 



Mr. Mellor reported Boobook Owls calling loudly at Lock- 

 leys. A very large gum-tree had to be cut down on his i)roi)erty. 

 This had been the home of Screech Owls for some time. A 

 kerosene tin full of ]»ellets. si)arrow heads, mice remains, etc., 

 had been collected from the hollo.ws. and was sent on to the 

 Museum for tabulation. 



Mr. Ashby also sent a nund)er of i)ellets of the Pxxtbook Owl 

 from Blackwood on to the Museum. 



Mr. A. K. Ashby showed a skin of the Landrail. This bird 

 had been caught in a rabbit trap at Yenar, Victoria, and. being 

 considered a new bird in that district, was sent along for identi- 

 fication. Members thought that it was somewhat larger than 

 those found round Adelaide. Mr. A. Crompton said that the 

 T^andrail Avas often seen i-oosting in orange trees. The Thair 

 man asked Mr. ('rom])ton to secure date, etc., so that this inte 

 resting habit could be placed on record. 



The (Miairman ri^xu-ted that the Swift Lorikeets wei-e nume 

 rous about Blackwood, and were feeding i>i'incipally on the seeds 

 of the Pei)j)ermint flum, and were not fre(puMiting the h<>ney- 

 laden flowei-s of the Blue Gum jiearly as much as he had 

 expected. Mi*. A. K. Ashby mentioned that this species has a 

 very sweet warble. 



A resolution was i»assed. expressing much a])]»rei iat ion of 

 the Daylight Tiamit: but mendx'rs thought it might be lowered 

 a little, thereby allowing a closer com|»aiMson of coloui's. 



Bii-d notes for the month were handed in bv Messrs. .1. W. 

 Mellor and Edwin Ashby. 



A discussion then took |»lace on the following speci(>s of 

 Malnridae 



.M. lambei-li. .^L elci/ans, >L ci-nentai iis. M. leiiconoins. M. 

 melanocephalus. and M. lencoptei-ns illii' I'lmk .ind white 

 ^^'ren from Barrowi. 



