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Cbe Uktortdn naturdllst 



Vol. XIX.— No. 2. JUNE 5, 1902. No. 222. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary meeting of the Club was held in the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th May, 1902. The 

 president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., occupied the chair, and about 

 50 members and visitors were present. -• 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



From Mr. C W. Maclean, Inspector of Fisheries, forwarding a 

 report by Constable Carey, stationed at Whittlesea, regarding the 

 wholesale destruction of birds of all kinds through eating 

 poisoned grain laid for the destruction of rabbits, and asking the 

 opinion of the Club as to whether the statement was correct with 

 regard to the whole of the State. 



The constable stated that he had seen hundreds of dead birds, 

 and particularly quail, when passing along some of the country 

 roads, and only recently counted no less than twenty-seven dead 

 magpies on three miles of road. The constable's statement was 

 verified by Messrs. G. A. Keartland, C French, F.L.S., and C. 

 C. Brittlebank, who stated that they had frequently found 

 numbers of birds and opossums lying dead on the ground in 

 districts where poison had been laid. 



On the motion of Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, seconded by Mr. C. 

 French, F.L.S., Messrs. J. A. Kershaw, G. A. Keartland, and C. 

 C. Brittlebank were appointed a sub-committee to draft a reply 

 on the matter. 



REPORTS. 



A brief report on the Club's excursion to Broadmeadows on 

 Saturday, 19th April, was given by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., who 

 acted as leader on the occasion. The party, consisting of twelve 

 members, worked along the Broadmeadows Creek, and spent a 

 pleasant and profitable afternoon in examining the geology of 

 the district. 



ELECTIONS. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. F. Chapman, F.R.M.S., National 

 Museum, Melbourne ; Mr. Clifford Coles, Elizabeth-street, Mel- 

 bourne ; and Mr. W. J. O'Neil, Lands Department, Melbourne, 

 were duly elected as ordinary members ; and Mr. J. C. Goudie, 

 Birchip, and Mr. A. J. Smith, Port Albert, as country members 

 of the Club. 



