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Vol. XII.— No. 10. JANUARY, 1896. No. 146. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting was held at the Royal Society's 

 Hall on Monday evening, 13th January, 1896. The president^ 

 Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and 

 some 90 members and visitors were present. 



REPORT. 



A report of the excursion to Heidelberg was received from the 

 leader, Mr. J. Shephard. The object of the excursion was pond 

 life. Among the objects obtained was an apparently new 

 rotifer, which will form the subject of a paper at a future 

 meeting. Another most interesting discovery was that of a fresh- 

 water snail containing two stages of the Liver Fluke. 



ELECTION OF MEMBER. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. G. C. Goudie was duly elected a 

 member of the Club. 



PAPERS. 



I. By Mr. J. Gabriel, F.L.S., entitled " Further Notes from 

 Albatross Island." 



This almost inaccessible islet was revisited last October, in com- 

 pany with Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, for the purpose of obtaining 

 additional information on the nidification and flight of the Shy 

 Albatross, Thalassogeron cautus. Owing to rough weather the 

 island was only reached after ten days' waiting, so that but six 

 hours were spent there. The birds were found to be as numerous 

 as ever, and most of the eggs were well advanced in incubation. 

 This isolated rock is the only known breeding-place of the 

 species. The crayfish industry throughout the islands was 

 described to be in a languishing state, owing to the selfish policy 

 pursued by some fisherman in taking the female fish with spawn, 

 the latter being removed before being sent to market. It was 

 suggested that the Club should move for the protection of the 

 female fish altogether during the spawning months. 



Professor Spencer thought that the Club would do well to take 

 up the question of the protection of crayfish, and on the motion 

 of Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, seconded by Mr. Dudley Le Souef, it 

 was decided that the Committee be empowered to take action in 

 the matter. 



