Apni,"j Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 167 



A report 'of the excursion to the Richmond Quarries on 

 Saturday, 22nd February, was given by the leaders, Messrs. 

 J. Stickland and C. Daley, B.A. The former stated that pond- 

 life was not so prolific as on some former occasions, and had 

 not yet been thoroughly worked out. Mr. Daley drew 

 attention to the fact that the quarries were being made the 

 dumping-ground for rubbish of various kinds, whereas they 

 could be so treated that they could . become a picturesque 

 resort. He stated that the geological features of the excava- 

 tions were worth preserving, and enumerated a number of 

 aquatic birds seen, which appeared to be quite at home in the 

 locality. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard stated that the excursion to Melton, 

 arranged for Saturday, 8th March, had been abandoned owing 

 to the wet weather. 



ELECTION OF MEMBER. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. R. A. Howie, Powelltown, was 

 duly elected as a country member of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The chairman warmly welcomed Sergeant C. L. Barrett on 

 his return to the Club after a lengthy service with the A.I.F. 

 in Egypt and Palestine. Mr. Barrett briefly replied, mentioning 

 some of his natural history experiences, and promising to give 

 further details at some future time. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland brought under the notice of members 

 the recent attempt to induce the Department of Game and 

 Fisheries to vary the quail season, and extolled the firm 

 attitude taken in the matter by the Minister concerned, who 

 had refused the request. It was resolved to convey to the 

 Department the appreciation of the Club at its action. 



Mr. E. Cox referred to the great destruction of fish in inland 

 streams by cormorants during the last few months, and moved 

 that the matter be brought under the notice of the Fisheries 

 and Game Department. 



Dr. Sutton stated that similar complaints were being made 

 in Tasmania. 



Mr. P. R. H. St. John, in seconding the motion, stated that 

 cormorants were doing considerable damage at the Botanic 

 Gardens lake, though they had suffered for their boldness, he 

 having accounted for two hundred and ten birds with ninety- 

 seven cartridges. 



The motion was carried unanimously. 



A visitor (Private Potter), at the request of the chairman, 

 mentioned that when at sea, in the vicinity of Cocos Islands, 

 a cormorant had come on board the vessel, and became quite 

 tame, allowing itself to be handled without fear. 



