tHE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. l3l 



Shaw, Mertcn-crescent, Albert Park ; Dr. Gertrude Halley, M.B., 

 2 2 Collins-street, Melbourne ; Master Percy Taverner, Derby- 

 street, Camberwell. As country member — Mr. William Hugh 

 M'Mahon, Warrnambool. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The President announced that a new Leitz microscope stand, 

 together with a No. 3 and No. 6 Leitz lens, an Abbe condenser, 

 and two eye-pieces had been purchased for the use of members at 

 the Club meetings. Mr. J. Shepherd had also very kindly presented 

 the Club with a No. i Leitz lens, and he had much pleasure in 

 extending to Mr. Shephard the thanks of the Club for the gift, 

 which would be greatly appreciated by the members. 



PAPERS. 



By Mr. R. Hall, F.L.S., entitled "A Summer Journey through 

 Corea and Siberia." 



With the assistance of a very fine series of lantern views, the 

 author described his journey through Japan, Corea, and Siberia, 

 in company with Mr. Trebilcock, of Geelong, the chief object 

 being the study of the birds of the country passed through, 

 together with those which visit Australia but nest in Siberia. By 

 the aid of a map he pointed out the route followed, and then 

 proceeded to describe the many items of interest which came 

 under their notice. In Japan, where they stayed about 10 days, 

 he saw the Spine-tailed Swift, which migrates to Australia, return- 

 ing to Japan to breed. They next proceeded to Corea, several 

 scenes of which were shown ; thence, via Vladivostock, they 

 travelled through Manchuria and visited Irkutsk and Yakutsk, 

 making a short stay at each place, and collecting and noting the 

 various birds met with. The long journey down the River Lena 

 was full of interest to the naturalist. Here he found the Aus- 

 tralian Swift, Microjms pacificus, among other Australian birds, 

 nesting, and frequently saw it perching on the rocks. Here also 

 they were fortunate in witnessing the migration of one of the 

 European finches, which passed over in thousands. Photo- 

 graphs of Reindeer Moss growing a.mong the rocks and a variety 

 of plants in flower were shown, also of piles of the great tusks 

 of the extinct mammoth awaiting shipment, many of which 

 weighed between one and two hundredweight. In conclusion a 

 series of maps were shown to illustrate the probable route followed 

 by the birds migrating to Australia. Altogether some 400 birds 

 were collected on the journey, mostly from country never before 

 worked by the ornithologiht. 



The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, congratulated Mr. Hall on 

 the work he had accomplished, and the value of his observations 

 in the field, particularly regarding the migrations and breeding 

 places of the birds which visit our shores. 



