98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



History Society," vol. ix., part 4, from the Society ; " Botany 

 Bulletins," 11 and 12, from Department of Agriculture, Queens- 

 land. 



PAPER. 



By Mr. C. M. Maplestone, entitled " Calendars, and the 

 Indexing of Natural History Observations." 



The paper dealt firstly with calendars such as the orohid 

 calendars published in recent Naturalists, pointing out the advan- 

 tages of such an arrangement over long lists of names. The 

 great importance to every working naturalist of keeping an index 

 to his diary of observations was then touched u|)on, the author's 

 remarks being illustrated by his own index containing references 

 to records of upwards of 30 years' observations. 



PROTECTION OF MAGPIES. 



A discussion on " The Advisability of Removing Magpies from 

 the Protected List" was opened by Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., who 

 thought the Club should give an expression of opinion for or 

 against the protection from magpies. He said there could be no 

 doubt that the bird's tastes had become more granivorous since 

 the Club was instrumental in having them protected, and we 

 should consider whether the evidence now available justifies 

 the removal of that protection. It would be remembered that 

 a specific charge against the bird of having destroyed a crop of 

 maize at Mitcham last year had been sliown to be without 

 foundation, but this year, owing to the dry season and the 

 scarcity of insect life, the birds have undoubtedly eaten wheat 

 and oats in some quantity. 



Mr. A. Coles was in favour of removing the protection, as in 

 many birds dissected by him the stomach contained grain. A 

 farmer at Kyneton had shown him crops destroyed by magpies, 

 of which he had shot forty in one morning. 



Mr. D. Le Souef proposed that the birds should be protected 

 like game birds, only during the breeding season. He had 

 known many magpies to be killed by eating poisoned grain laid 

 for rabbits. 



Mr. J. Gabriel mentioned that in the Whittlesea district the 

 poisoned grain laid for magpies had killed numbers of Satin 

 Bower Birds. 



Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth pointed out that protection during 

 the breeding season would cover the period during which the 

 damage was done. He was in favour of continuing the pro- 

 tection, owing to the large amount of good done by the birds ; 

 but farmers who thought otherwise and killed the birds 

 which were destroying their crops could rest assured that they 

 would not be prosecuted. 



Written contributions were received from Messrs. G. A. Keart- 



