38 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [^'^juiy^*' 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, the following persons were duly- 

 elected members of the Club : — As an ordinary member, Mr. H. 

 G. Haig, 20 Nicholson-street, Fitzroy ; as country members, Mr. 

 Otto Helm, State school, Laver's Hill, Beech Forest, and Mr. 

 J. Johnston, State Forests Department, Creswick ; as associate 

 members, Mr. Sydney B. Abbott, Pakington-street, Kew, Mr. J. 

 Kelso, 33 Kelso-street, Richmond, Mr. V. Maddison, 58 Chfton- 

 street, Richmond, Mr. Reg. A. Routley, 37 Derby-street, Kew, 

 and Mr. Robert Stocks, 30 Park-street, Parkville ; as junior 

 members, Master Ivan Berthon, Victoria-road, Hawthorn, 

 Master C. Tweddle and Master E. Tweddle, 18 Barkly-street, 

 St. Kilda, Master R. M'Lister, Fitzroy-street, St. Kilda, and 

 Master L. Watson, 12 Waterloo-street, St. Kilda. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland drew attention to the steps which were 

 being taken in England with reference to the destruction of gay- 

 plumaged birds for the requirements of fashion, and thought that 

 the Club should request the Advisory Committee on the Ganie 

 Act to take some action in the matter. 



The suggestion was supported ^by Messrs. C. Barrett, E. B. 

 Nicholls, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., and J. Shephard. 



Mr. O. A. Sayce, A.L.S., said that ]\Ir. G. M. Thomson, 

 F.L.S., of Dunedin, and a member of the New Zealand legisla- 

 ture, was present, and could probably give some information as to 

 what was being done in that country. 



The Chairman welcomed Mr. Thomson to the meeting, and 

 asked him if he could afford the members any information on the 

 question. 



Mr. Thomson thanked the meeting for its kind reception of 

 him, and outlined what had been done in New Zealand in the 

 way of providing sanctuaries and reserves for birds, but said that 

 unfortunately the destruction of their ground birds by the intro- 

 duced stoats and weasels was a very serious matter, and there 

 seemed to be no way of combating the evil. He wondered at 

 womenusing forpersonal adornmentbodiesof birds, beetles, spiders, 

 and 'Other things which they would be afraid to approach if alive. 



The Chairman said the meeting seemed to be in sympathy with 

 the remarks of the speakers, and it was resolved, on the motion 

 of Messrs. Keartland and Coghill— " That this Club take action 

 in support of the movement to prevent the use of gay-plumaged 

 birds for decorative purposes, and that the matter be brought 

 under the notice of the Advisory Committee on the Game Act, 

 with the view of urging it to adopt such steps as may be necessary 

 to secure that end." 



Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, thought that the matter should be 

 brought directly under the notice of the Commonwealth Govern- 

 ment, and moved accordingly. This was seconded by Mr. E. B. 

 Nicholls, and carried. 



