2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



had visited Werribee Gorge for the first time since the local 

 Progress Association had formed the pathways and effected other 

 improvements, and said that it is possible now to see all the 

 most interesting portions of the Gorge with very little trouble, 

 and that ladies need not be deterred from going there by the fear 

 of rough walking. 



PAPER READ. 



I. By Mr. D. J. Mahony, M.Sc, entitled "A Fossil Watch." 

 The author exhibited portions of a watch found some litde 

 time ago during the progress of the works at the Red Bluff, St. 

 Kilda, and showed that, though from its make the watch could 

 not be much more than twenty years old, it was so embedded 

 in the sandstone that it could be truly called a fossil, and in- 

 stanced the fact as proving the rapidity with which material may 

 be formed into true stone. 



Some little discussion ensued, in which Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, 

 referred to the cementing action of some tertiary beds near 

 Coburg, and Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S,, to a similar action by 

 the rocks near the Loch Ard Gorge, west of Cape Otway. 



DISCUSSION. 



Following up the innovation of the previous meeting, a dis- 

 cussion on the Hawks and Owls of Victoria was set down on 

 the notice paper for the evening. 



The chairman introduced the subject by giving some par- 

 ticulars of the habits of the two groups. He related having seen 

 a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles chasing a hare, which sought as 

 much shelter from a fence as it could, but was dislodged by one 

 of the birds, while the other remained ready to capture it as it 

 emerged from cover. He said hawks were deserving of protec- 

 tion from the fact that they were great enemies to snakes. 



Dr. Macgillivray related a number of interesting facts about 

 different members of the groups which had come under his notice 

 during many years' experiences in the back country. He main- 

 tained that the Wedge-tailed Eagle rather than being a nuisance 

 to pastoralists was a benefit, as it was very destructive to rabbits. 

 On one occasion he found the remains of no less than two 

 hundred rabbits round one nest, besides which there were ten 

 freshly killed ones. His experience was that only weakly lambs 

 were attacked. The Goshawk was very destructive to small 

 birds, while the Sparrow-hawk preferred domestic chickens. Owls, 

 as a rule, fed largely on insects, but the Barn Owl was very 

 destructive to rats, mice, and the smaller marsupials. The 

 Black-cheeked Falcon was remarkable for its determination and 

 courage, and he had observed it feeding on the small Shell 

 Parrakeets. 



