July, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 29 



Promontory possessed by the Club has been used on two or 

 three occasions during the year before different audiences, and 

 has served to illustrate the scenery of a portion of the State 

 which, as years go by, will doubtless become more familiar to 

 Victorians. 



" A deputation (on which this Club was represented) waited on 

 the Prime Minister with reference to the enormous destruction of 

 birds for the sake of their plumage for decorative purposes, and, 

 we are pleased to say, with good results, as it was promised that 

 steps would be taken to minimise the evil. 



" At the instance of the Melbourne Beefsteak Club your com- 

 mittee sent delegates to a meeting of kindred bodies, &c., which 

 resulted in the formation of a National Parks Association, which 

 has undertaken the duty of urging upon the Government the 

 reservation of suitable areas for national parks, and the protection 

 of the indigenous fauna and flora, and it is confidently expected 

 that something tangible will result from this movement. 



" Other matters of public interest, such as the pollution of 

 Britannia Creek and the prevention of fires in the Gembrook 

 Reserve, have occupied the attention of your committee, and an 

 attempt was made to influence the Government to repurchase the 

 Grange property and restore it to the Domain, but without 

 success. 



"The hon. librarian reports that during the year 6i vols, or 

 parts were purcliased, and 125 vols, or parts donated or received 

 in exchange. Among the donations may be mentioned a copy of 

 that valuable work, Buller's " Birds of New Zealand," presented 

 by the University Library; several volumes of the Smithsonian 

 Reports and Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 

 from the National Museum ; and many back numbers of the 

 Naturalist from the National Herbarium. These latter have been 

 most useful in enabling broken sets to be completed. He 

 suggests that the Club's exchange list be further extended, and 

 that popular works relating to natural science should be 

 purchased for the library for the benefit of those members who 

 have neither time nor opportunity to specialise. A large book- 

 case was added during the year, and to Mrs. E. Bage, one of its 

 life members, the Club is mdebted for a donation towards the 

 purchase of a case, &c., for a card catalogue, the compilation of 

 which has almost been completed, and it is hoped that, more 

 especially for the benefit of our country members, the catalogue 

 will also be published m pamphlet form during the year. During 

 the year a large number of parts of serials have been bound and 

 made available for issue. 



" The financial position of the Club is, we are pleased to say, 

 very satisfactory. The statement of accounts to be submitted here- 

 with shows the receipts to have been ;^203 8s. gd., and the 



