Cbe Utctorian naturalisi 



Vol. XX.— No. 7. NOVEMBER 5, 1903. No. 239. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, i2th October, 1903. 



The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, occupied the chair, and about 

 fifty members and visitors were present. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The hon. secretary read a letter from the Secretary of the Shire 

 of Rutherglen, in reply to a communication from the Club 

 drawing their attention to the destruction of game on Lake 

 Moodemere. The Shire Secretary stated that his Council had 

 done, and was continuing to do, everything in its power to 

 prevent the destruction of game on the lake. In pointing out the 

 difficulty the Council has had in carrying out its intentions with 

 regard to the reserve, he explained that when the reserve was 

 applied for some years ago the Government refused to adopt the 

 suggestion of the Council that all shooting should be absolutely 

 prohibited within the area in question, and stated that had this 

 suggestion been acted upon convictions could easily have been 

 secured, whereas, under existing conditions, they are all but an 

 impossibility. He thought that, with the facts before it, the Club 

 might be able to suggest some way out of the difficulty. 



A letter was also read from the Secretary of Public Works 

 regarding the same matter, which stated, in consequence of a 

 communication received from the Club, that the inspector under 

 the Fisheries and Game Acts had recently spent four days on and 

 about the lake, and failed to find any justification for the reports 

 mentioned. The inspector stated, in fact, that there is little or no 

 game at the lake to destroy, as though on the lake before daylight 

 and till after dark he never saw more than twenty ducks. 



In the discussion which followed, the action of the Rutherglen 

 Shire Council was favourably commented upon, and it was urged 

 that the Club should support the Council in its endeavours to 

 protect the game on the reserve. 



Mr. F. Pitcher moved, and Mr. F. Baker seconded — " That 

 the matter be left in the hands of the committee, to take such 

 action as it thought necessary." 



Messrs. G. Coghill, G. A. Keartland, and the secretary also 

 took part in the discussion. 



REPORTS. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard reported a good attendance of members 

 in response to Dr. G. Home's invitation to visit his aviary of 



