Vol.XXVIll. 

 igi2 



] Gabriel, Notes on the Mutton-birds of Bass Strait. 211 



which my triend at the time thought had been shot ; but there 

 is not much doubt that the barbed-wire about was the cause 

 of death. This beach is about three miles away from Murray's, 

 the nearest rookery. Formerly there was a small rookery of 

 about a dozen or two holes there, but the ubiquitous rabbit 

 has asserted himself, and the birds have practically deserted 

 the spot. After close hunting, we found three eggs — one in 

 a hole, one outside a rabbit-burrow, and the third was taken 

 from one of the dead birds. 



Again, on 4th December, while picking up stray eggs on 

 Murray s Rookery, 1 found several dead birds which had un- 

 doubtedly suffered the same fate. 



Now, I appeal to my fellow-members, is not this a reasonable 

 explanation of the death of these birds ? Some people will 

 say that there are places on Cape Woolamai that are free from 

 these fences, but the birds can mortally hurt themselves and 

 still fly for considerable distances before they succumb. 



I do not deny there are isolated instances of cruelty, but in 

 all justice to the legitimate eggers I must say that they in- 

 dignantly repudiate having anything to do with it. Woe 

 betide the man who is found by them doing crooked things ! 

 The last two who were caught by them, ten or twelve years 

 ago, had the option of going over the cliff or going home. They 

 were very glad to choose the latter, after paying a fine as well. 

 In the past dogs have been found worrying the birds, but a 

 " police notice " was sufficient to stop that. 



The fishermen of Western Port during late years have had 

 but a precarious living, and the little harvest of eggs which 

 some of them secure is very acceptable, meaning bread and 

 butter for their little ones. The eggs are sold at gd. per dozen, 

 and a man has to be an expert egger and work very hard to 

 gather sufficient to return him los. per day for the four or five 

 days available for the harvest. 



I think it behoves us to carefully consider the proposed 

 question of closing the rookery at Cape Woolamai, which is 

 the largest on Phillip Island. Personally, I am not in favour 

 of it, as I consider it is unnecessary. \ think I have shown 

 that the taking of the eggs makes little or no difference ; but 

 I agree that there should be some check as to methods of 

 taking young birds. One Hastings man boasts that he takes 

 1,500 birds every year, and spreads a net to catch the out- 

 going birds. This, I contend, is not fair. 



Though I see no necessity for strict measures at present, 

 in view of a possible scarcity in the future I would suggest that 

 there be — 



1. Rigid protection for eggs after 30th November. 



2. Strict registration of names of eggers and bird-gatherers. 



